Truck Accidents

The State of North Carolina has certain rules of the road regarding how all motor vehicles are operated on public streets, roadways, and highways. Those rules tend to be more strict for semi-trucks and the people who drive them.

You may have seen special signs in North Carolina regarding:

• Maximum Speed for Semi-Trucks and Tractor Trailers
• Grade Requirements and Mountain Operating Duties
• Weigh Stations
• Lane Restrictions
• Type of Roadway Limitations

What you might not realize is that how a truck is maintained is often as important as how the semi-truck or tractor trailer is driven on the highways.

“If they're hauling loads in North Carolina, truck drivers are required to inspect their vehicles before moving an inch. They need to inspect the brakes, make certain that loads are properly secured or tied down, and to confirm their maintenance logs are all in order.”

– Bill Powers

That's all on top of having the right kind of license as a CDL truck driver and complying with rest periods, weigh-ins, and other state and federal motor transport laws.

That statement may seem odd to you. How can a truck accident be avoided?

Our personal injury law firm and plaintiff's attorneys prefer not to call it an accident. Most trucking accidents take place because someone wasn't following the law.

Experienced courtroom lawyers in North Carolina call that negligence. If someone fails to follow the law, or even pay attention, or properly inspect their vehicle to make sure it's roadworthy, that may give rise to legal liability.

If you were injured in a trucking accident, or a loved one was killed due to the fact that the truck driver was tired, hadn't made sure their brakes worked or didn't properly inspect their load as the NC trucking laws require, then that's no accident. That's called negligence or a negligent act.

We help people and their families who are injured (or killed) in trucking accidents in North Carolina due the negligence of another, so please call us.

More information on Negligence Claims in North Carolina for:

• Boating Accidents in NC
• Aviation Accidents
• Motor Cycle Wrecks

“Our accident lawyers will want to talk to you immediately after the wreck. It is imperative to get to work on your case. As attorneys, experienced handling litigation issues in NC, we know how important it is to get the driving logs, maintenance records, and to sometimes immediately inspect the commercial vehicle involved.”

– Bill Powers

We prefer to sit down with our clients and meet in person. It helps us understand you and your case better. That is part of establishing a relationship built on trust.

But we also understand that isn't always possible. Regular car accident cases cause substantial traumas, including brain injuries. The injuries our law firm and accident lawyers see associated with trucking accidents are often catastrophic injuries.

That's true also for motorcycle wrecks, airplane accidents, boating accidents, and bicycle injuries where it is common to see brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

“The nature and extent of damages and injuries that result from a trucking accident is largely a measure of the size of the semi-truck and the vehicle it hit. It's a matter of weight and force, which is often associated with the speed of the respective vehicles, and often the failure to follow the NC traffic laws or the NC trucking laws.”

– Bill Powers

At Powers Law Firm, we review the evidence and factual background in your North Carolina truck accident case, including:

• The experience, qualifications, and physical condition of the driver
• Were there prior accidents or claims involving the driver and/or the vehicle?
• How long had the driver been on the road?
• The driving conditions
• Was the weather a factor?
• Did the truck driver take traffic and other factors into consideration?
• The payload on the truck
• Was the payload weight excessive?
• Did it require special handling?
• The maintenance records of the truck
• Did the truck have a history of breakdowns or maintenance problems?
• The drivers' logs

When investigating a truck accident claim in North Carolina, our lawyers identify the potential sources of financial recovery, including insurance policies and the personal assets of:

• The trucker's insurance company
• The trucker's employer
• Your own insurance company
• The company whose product is being hauled
• The trucker

Charlotte is one of the busiest trucking hubs in the United States. Tractor trailer accidents are common on trucking routes such as I-85, I-485, I-77, Highway 74, I-40, and the Tyvola Road intersection. When an 18-wheeler bumps a car, or rolls over, or a trailer disconnects, catastrophic injuries can result, sometimes hurting the people in other vehicles sharing the freeway.

When you have been injured in a trucking accident, you need experienced legal counsel to zealously protect your interests. You need the offices of Powers Law Firm for a free initial consultation.

If you have suffered serious personal injury in an accident involving a semi, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, or other commercial truck, contact Powers Law Firm to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your rights. Talk to a compassionate attorney today: 704-342-4357.