The Alabama Department of Transportation found that in 2019, over 2,600 injury crashes statewide involved commercial trucks. If you sustained injuries in Morgan County due to a crash with a large truck, a Decatur truck accident attorney from Morris Bart could help you recover compensation and get justice.
We represent victims of tractor-trailer collisions, navigating their insurance claims or lawsuits while they heal from their injuries. Our lawyers offer complimentary case assessments and will not require you to pay anything unless your case gets compensated. We will discuss your accident and legal options with you today for free. Our Huntsville office speaks with truck accident victims by appointment only.
What Will My Insurance Claim Cover in a Decatur, AL, Truck Crash?
When our lawyers file an insurance claim against an at-fault driver, trucking company, or another liable party, we demand the insurer to compensate our client for specific expenses and losses. This request varies somewhat from case to case but could include:
- Medical treatment and care for injuries
- Lost wages due to time away from work
- Diminished ability to earn
- Property damages, such as vehicle repair costs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Other intangible losses
There is no way to know the potential value of a claim until we investigate the case, develop the claim, and put a value on each loss or expense. We also estimate the cost of our clients’ noneconomic losses and seek fair compensation for them.
What If My Loved One Passed Away Because of Their Injuries?
Unfortunately, tractor-trailer collisions result in injuries severe enough to kill someone – 137 people died in Alabama truck crashes in 2019. If your immediate family member passed away from their injuries in a Decatur truck accident, we are here for you.
A truck accident lawyer from Morris Bart will review your case with you and explain how you might be able to recover compensation based on Ala. Code § 6-5-410. Alabama’s wrongful death law does not allow victims’ families to receive money for the expenses and losses they experienced. Instead, a court can only award punitive damages.
Trial courts generally award punitive damages to penalize the liable party for negligent, purposeful, or egregiously bad behavior. Our lawyers can discuss this possibility more during a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a Truck Accident lawyer serving Decatur, call (800) 537-8185
Establishing Legal Responsibility for My Decatur Truck Accident Case
We investigate tractor-trailer crashes the same way we do other accidents, although we must be mindful of additional steps required in these cases. For example, we need to act quickly to preserve and access evidence held by the truck driver’s employer. They may have key evidence to help us develop a case for compensation.
We need to gather evidence to support our accusation of negligence, which requires us to show:
- The driver acted carelessly or recklessly, often violating traffic laws
- Their actions caused the crash
- Our client suffered financial and physical harm
Once we prove negligence, we can hold the at-fault driver legally responsible.
You Could Also Hold Truck Companies Liable for Their Driver’s Actions
Like many jurisdictions, Alabama recognizes a legal doctrine known as respondeat superior. Alabama case law supports this doctrine under a 1929 Alabama Supreme Court ruling in St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co. v. Robbins: “A master is responsible for the acts of his servant or agent done within the scope of his employment.”
This doctrine means we can often hold another party vicariously liable for the negligence of a truck driver. Examples include:
- A trucking company
- A large corporation with its own fleet
- A distributor of goods
- Another employer of the at-fault driver
However, it is also important to note that Alabama has strict rules about shared fault. Under case law upheld in Golden v. McCurry (1980), Alabama is one of four states to use a pure contributory negligence standard. Under pure contributory negligence, if you contributed to causing the crash in any way, you have no claim to compensation. You will not be able to demand an insurance payout or recover compensation in court.
When Is a Lawsuit Necessary in a Decatur Truck Crash Case?
We do not go to trial in most traffic accident cases. However, some situations may require us to file a lawsuit:
- The insurer will not cover some or all damages
- The driver or trucking company blames the crash on our client
- Circumstances of the case make suing the best option
- We are close to running out of time to sue before the deadline
The deadline for filing a lawsuit is the statute of limitations. Ala. Code § 6-2-38 gives accident victims up to two years to sue the at-fault driver and other vicariously liable parties. However, some exceptions reduce how long you have, which our Decatur truck accident lawyers can explain during a complimentary consultation.
Click to contact our Decatur Personal Injury Attorneys today
Morris Bart Has a Proven Record in Helping Accident Victims
Lawyers from Morris Bart have recovered compensation for more than 6,500 clients in 2019. Our clients included hundreds of traffic accident victims, including motorcyclists and their families. We have fought for justice for our clients in cases like yours for more than four decades.
We conveniently have 15 locations and serve four states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Our Huntsville location is the closest to Decatur, but our lawyers will speak with you on the phone or meet you at your home or local hospital.
We are a contingency fee law firm meaning that we do not charge clients anything upfront or throughout the process. We only receive attorney’s fees if we win compensation for them.
Morris Bart Provides Complimentary Consultations
You can speak with a Huntsville personal injury lawyer about your Decatur traffic accident and legal options for financial recovery for your injuries, lost income, and other damages. We provide free case assessments, answer questions, and help you better understand this process. We accept appointments for complimentary consultations.
Call (800) 537-8185 to speak with one of our attorneys and start your case today.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
