Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyer
One bad move or mistake from a trucker can quickly lead to lifelong consequences and hardship for others sharing the road. If you or a loved one has been severely injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, you should not hesitate to stand up for your rights.
With help from a Charlotte truck accident lawyer, you may be able to hold the responsible parties accountable for what happened. Call our office at (919) 785-5000 to arrange a time for your free personal injury case evaluation.
Why Work With a Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyer at Whitley Law Firm?
The Charlotte truck accident attorneys at Whitley Law Firm have served injured people in North Carolina since 1974. Our years of service have honed our approach to cases and caring for our clients. “The Whitley Advantage” means we follow the “Golden Rule” and treat our clients as we would like to be treated.
We conduct each case with care and compassion and by listening to our clients. To facilitate our working relationships, we offer each client:
- The email address and phone number of their attorney
- A promise to return messages within 24 hours
- Bilingual service in Spanish or English
- Appointments when needed
- A sincere belief that we work for our clients, not the other way around
Our family helps yours by only taking serious injury cases. If you or a loved one has a minor injury due to an accident, you probably don’t need a lawyer. When you come in for your free consultation, we will advise you on the best way forward—even if that means saving money by not hiring us.
Our Community Service
We live and work in North Carolina and believe in giving back to communities around the state. Our efforts are varied, and a sampling includes:
- Sponsoring the Community Cares program with WRAL that donates to a local charity every month
- Feeding the Hungry by donating to Urban Ministries of Wake County every time we receive a “like” on Facebook, hosting the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Annual Food Drive, and collecting and donating food to local food banks
- Donating to the Wake County Animal Center to financially help families looking to adopt a pet
- Designing the winning billboard ad in a national contest that highlighted the dangers of texting and driving
- Sponsoring the Run for the Green to raise funds for those who cannot meet their basic needs
- Hosting a toy drive for UNC Children’s Hospital
Accolades Received by Whitley Law Firm
We’re proud of the recognition our hard work has received, such as:
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Best Law Firm – U.S. News
- Top Attorney Personal Injury – AVVO 10.0 Superb
- Super Lawyers
- Rising Stars – Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Raleigh’s Best
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Our clients’ words mean more to us than anything else because our clients are part of our family. The following testimonial reflects the sentiment of many of our clients:
- “Whitley Law Firm and I have had a long 6.5 year case together and I couldn’t thank them enough for all of the hard work they have done for me. They made every rough road a smooth one and treated me as if I were their only client. I have gotten to know a lot of the people in the firm and they feel like a part of my family. Whit, Stephen and Linda and the rest of the staff went over and beyond to get things done for me and I will be forever grateful. I will and have recommended the Whitley Law Firm to any and all who see[k] their professional services. I look forward to working with them again in my upcoming case.” -W.M.
Your Cost When Working With Whitley Law Firm
On top of your free initial consultation, we offer contingency fee agreements to our clients, which means you do not pay us if we do not win you a settlement—you have nothing to lose!
Working With Our Charlotte Truck Accident Attorneys in Pursuit of Justice and Compensation
Our personal injury lawyers will fight by your side to see that the insurance company respects your rights and you have the information and evidence to pursue a fair compensation settlement or judgment.
Accidents involving big rigs and passenger vehicles are often more complicated than accidents between cars because:
- Multiple liable parties may be associated with commercial trucks, including the driver, the owner, the cargo loaders, the truck manufacturer, and the truck parts manufacturer.
- Truck drivers must follow the rules set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If a truck driver violates these regulations, they or their employer could be liable in the event of an accident.
- Truck accidents can cause significant damage to people and property, often increasing the amount of damages victims seek. Insurance companies may fight harder when victims request large sums in payouts.
When our Charlotte truck wreck attorneys take on your case, we’ll work to identify the negligent party or parties and the full extent of your losses. Our in-house investigative team’s efforts may include but aren’t limited to:
- Collecting eyewitness statements—We must interview eyewitnesses as soon as possible after an accident. Memories fade quickly and can be unreliable, particularly when trying to recall something that happened quickly.
- Reviewing medical and police records related to the accident—We want to be aware of the information the police have gathered and compare it to what we know. We must also review medical records carefully to ensure we account for all your current and potential medical costs.
- Gathering CCTV footage and other visual data of the crash—Few eyewitnesses will have been looking at traffic long enough to see when and where things started to go wrong, resulting in a crash. However, visual data, particularly CCTV footage, can be invaluable when attempting to prove the course of events leading up to your injury.
- Evaluating data from the truck’s black box and maintenance and inspection logs—A truck’s black box can tell us how fast the truck was going, any sudden stops the driver made, and the driving behaviors performed in the minutes and hours before the accident.
- Examining the truck driver’s and their employer’s histories—If the truck driver’s employer has a history of providing poor driver training or scheduling drivers beyond recommended hours, this can show negligence. If the truck driver’s history shows a poor driving record, that may also be a crucial component of liability.
- Reconstructing the accident—Our accident experts may find that using the available data to reconstruct the accident is the best way to discover what happened and who is at fault.
After your Charlotte truck accident attorney has collected all applicable evidence, they can help you prepare and file your claim. They will then negotiate with the insurance company or companies on your behalf, seeking the compensation you deserve.
If we cannot agree on a fair settlement amount, we will represent your interests in court. Even though most cases settle before reaching this point, we always prepare for trial from day one, just in case.
Losses You May Receive Compensation for After a Truck Accident
If you were injured in a truck accident in North Carolina, you may recover three types of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Damages are monetary compensation from an insurance claim or court judgment for losses you suffered in the accident.
Economic Damages
Your economic damages are direct financial losses resulting from the accident, such as:
- Medical costs covering your hospital stay, surgery, rehab, prescriptions, medical devices, adaptations to your home or vehicle, long-term or short-term care, and any other related expenses
- Property replacement or repair, which may include your vehicle at the time of the crash and personal property damaged or ruined in the collision, such as a laptop or phone
- Income lost due to an inability to work during recovery or the loss of future earnings if you have to take a lower-paying job due to your injuries or cannot work at all
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate because they don’t come with bills or receipts. They may include:
- Pain and suffering experienced during the accident and recovery, as well as long-term if you cannot make a full recovery
- Anxiety and depression
- Loss of quality of life
- A loss of or change in relationships due to the effects of your injuries
Punitive
According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1D-15, punitive damages punish the liable party for fraud, malice, or “willful or wanton conduct” and aim to prevent the liable party or others from repeating those acts in the future.
While rare, these damages may apply to your case. Your Charlotte truck accident lawyer can help you understand whether you qualify for punitive damages.
North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations Deadline to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Charlotte or elsewhere in North Carolina, you generally have three years to file a lawsuit for compensation, per G.S. §1-52. If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you only have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, per G.S. § 1-53. The clock starts ticking on the accident date.
Our truck accident attorneys in Charlotte will explain how this time limit affects your case.
Why Truck Accidents Happen in Charlotte
Due to its southwesterly position in North Carolina, Charlotte is one of the central hubs of transportation and distribution in the state. With major interstates—I-85 and I-77—cutting through and looping around the center of town, navigating the busy roads can be a hassle for even experienced motorists.
The real trouble begins when considering how many semi-trucks share the highway with smaller vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), most fatalities in large truck crashes are occupants of smaller vehicles. In 2021, more than 4,700 people died in large truck crashes; of these:
- 68% were passenger vehicle occupants
- 15% were bicyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians
- 16% were truck occupants
According to the FMCSA, common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driving distracted
- Driving while impaired
- Poorly maintained roads
- Bad weather
- Inadequate truck driver training
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Poor truck maintenance
- Faulty truck design
- Faulty truck parts
- Lack of driving experience
- Tire blowout
- Lack of signaling when turning
- Incorrectly loaded cargo causing shifts in transit
Steps You Can Take to Help Your Truck Accident Case in Charlotte
The first thing you should do if you’ve been involved in a big truck accident is to check yourself and others for injuries, if possible. If you or anyone else needs immediate medical attention, that takes priority over anything else.
If you do not need immediate help and everyone else is okay, we suggest you do the following:
- Take pictures of the accident scene and the individual cars and trucks, including license plates.
- Collect the contact information of everyone involved in the crash and take pictures of their driver’s licenses and insurance cards.
- Ask witnesses for their contact information and note any comments they make.
- Ask the police for the accident report number.
- See your healthcare provider as soon as possible after the accident, as many injuries may not be immediately obvious.
- Speak with a Charlotte, NC truck accident attorney before discussing the accident with the police, insurance company representatives, or anyone else.
- Don’t make a statement for or accept any offer from the insurance company; instead, simply refer them to your attorney.
- Keep copies of any invoices or paperwork associated with the accident, including medical reports, and make notes about your physical state and any changes you notice over time.
- Share all of your images and documentation with your attorney.
Start Working With Our Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyers Today
One of the worst things you can experience after being hurt in a truck accident is feeling helpless or alone. Our goal as committed and compassionate truck accident attorneys in Charlotte is to be by your side from day one until your case concludes. Dedicating ourselves to each case is the right thing to do, and this is why we’ve enjoyed decades of success and recovered multi-million dollar case results for our clients.
Schedule your free consultation today by calling (919) 785-5000. We’re here for you.
