Did you suffer injuries in an accident with a commercial truck in Madison County? The team at Morris Bart can assist with your personal injury claim. Our team of Huntsville, AL, 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers can often hold the truck driver and their employer responsible in these cases, recovering compensation for our clients.
We provide complimentary consultations for commercial vehicle accident victims in Alabama. You can learn about your options for seeking justice for your injuries and other damages, and we will answer your questions during this meeting.
Recoverable Damages in a Truck Accident Insurance Claim
When we investigate a tractor-trailer collision for a client, we gather documentation of the costs and losses they experienced due to their crash and injuries. The value of these damages becomes the recoverable compensation in their case. The amount of the settlement varies from case to case and depends on many factors.
However, most traffic accident victims suffer similar types of damages:
- Economic expenses: Medical bills, future care costs, and vehicle repairs
- Financial losses: Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Non – Economic damages: Physical pain and suffering and mental anguish
We know how to determine the value and prove each of these damages. We also work with a network of experts we can call upon if we need help. For example, if a client will require additional surgeries to reduce scarring and disfigurement from a burn injury, we can:
- Call on a doctor who will explain their future medical needs
- Work with experts to determine the approximate cost of these procedures
- Seek compensation to pay for these future care expenses
For a free legal consultation with a 18-Wheeler Accident lawyer serving Huntsville, call (256) 666-3010
Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers Fights for Justice for Our Clients
The Morris Bart law firm represents truck accident victims based on contingency. We do not charge any upfront fees and only get our attorney’s fees if we settle the case or otherwise win compensation for our client.
We fight for the best possible outcome for our clients, including recovering just compensation for their damages and holding the at-fault parties accountable. In 2019, our lawyers recovered financial compensation for over 6,500 clients injured in personal injury cases.
When we represent an 18-wheeler accident victim, we might take these steps in your case:
- Investigating what happened
- Gathering evidence to prove negligence
- Identifying the liable parties
- Valuing the client’s damages
- Determining a fair settlement range
- Preparing all paperwork
- Meeting any legal deadlines
- Demanding a payout from the at-fault parties
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Suing the liable parties if necessary to recover a just payout
You can learn more about the approach we might take with your case, how our fees work, and the services we provide during your free consultation with our team.
Proving Negligence and Liability in an Alabama Truck Collision
To recover compensation for our clients in a Huntsville truck accident insurance claim, we must prove:
- What happened
- Who caused the crash
- The role each party played
- Who is responsible
- The harm our client suffered
Some common causes and contributing factors to tractor-trailer crashes include:
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy and fatigued driving, often the result of violating hours of service rules
- Driving while intoxicated
- Carelessly or recklessly breaking traffic rules
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Inexperience or poor training affecting the driver’s ability to handle certain loads or conditions
The Truck Driver Might not Be the Only Liable Party
Our attorneys know how to develop a truck accident claim, including proving fault and liability. In many traffic accidents, the at-fault driver is legally responsible. However, there is another factor to consider when it comes to liability in commercial vehicle crashes.
Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, we can usually build a case against the driver’s employer and hold them vicariously liable for their worker’s negligence. This is possible under Alabama case law. In St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co. v. Robbins (1929), the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed that a company is responsible for the actions of its workers as long as the actions were “within the scope of his employment.”
Other liable parties in a truck accident could include a maintenance company entrusted with keeping the truck in safe working condition or a municipality that failed to repair a malfunctioning traffic signal. We’ll investigate your accident to determine all liable parties.
Click to contact our Huntsville Truck Accident Attorney today
Do I Have to Sue the Trucking Company to Recover Compensation?
In most cases, we do not sue to secure a payout in a truck accident. Instead, we can generally negotiate a settlement for a fair payout with the insurer. However, we sometimes must file a lawsuit in a Madison County civil court to seek justice for our client.
Ala. Code § 6-2-38 gives us two years to act in most cases. Exceptions could shorten this period, however.
Even when we sue, we do not typically go to trial. Instead, settlement negotiations continue during the initial stages of the legal process. In some cases, we even settle in the weeks or days just before trial.
Wrongful Death in a Huntsville Truck Crash
Alabama has a unique and complicated wrongful death statute: Ala. Code § 6-5-410. If your loved one died from their injuries following a Huntsville truck crash, you could pursue damages. However, you will not be allowed to seek compensatory damages, meaning you cannot recover damages based on your expenses, the decedent’s lost income, and emotional suffering.
Instead, you can only pursue punitive damages in these cases. This limit raises two concerns:
- It makes it more difficult to prove these claims; and
- They rarely compensate a family enough to make up for their economic and noneconomic losses
Our team will discuss your options based on the facts of your case during your free consultation.
Connect with Morris Bart & Associates, LLC for Free Today
The Morris Bart law office in Huntsville reviews claims by appointment only. Reach out to us today to schedule a time to meet with you about your 18-wheeler truck accident claim. We want to discuss your crash, injuries, and next steps.
Call (256) 666-3010 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
Questions?Call (256) 666-3010
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
