Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyer

You suffer a severe injury in a truck crash caused by someone else. Now, you have to deal with a liable party’s insurance company, which is more focused on protecting its bottom line rather than your best interests. Let a Jacksonville truck accident lawyer negotiate an insurance settlement or help you get fair compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.  

The legal team at Whitley Law Firm has more than 120 years of combined experience in personal injury cases. Tell us about your truck collision, and we can help you recover compensation for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and other losses. Meet with a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer from our team.

Why Do You Need Legal Representation for Your Jacksonville Truck Accident Case?

A Jacksonville truck accident attorney handles your legal matters while you focus on getting rest and recovering from your crash and injuries. Your lawyer works directly with responsible parties and insurance companies to help you secure maximum damages.

Along with this, your attorney assists you in other ways, such as:

• Calculating your economic and non-economic damages
• Identifying any negligent parties
• Communicating with a liable party or their insurer on your behalf
• Providing you with details about your legal options
• Protecting you against bad faith insurance practices
• Negotiating a fair settlement with an at-fault party or their insurance carrier

The Whitley Law Firm team can teach you about how fault is determined in a truck accident claim and other legal topics. We can determine if an insurance claim or injury lawsuit is warranted. Schedule an initial consultation with us.  

How Much Time Do You Have to File a Truck Crash Claim?

North Carolina’s General Statutes (G.S.) put a time frame on how long you have to submit a personal injury claim. If you are injured in a truck collision, you have three years from the date of this crash to request compensation from any liable parties, per G.S. 1-52. A truck accident lawyer serving Jacksonville can help you get compensation from a liable party or their insurer. 

There are auto and vehicle insurance requirements for those who reside in North Carolina and drive a car. After your truck collision, notify your car insurance carrier about your collision, and the business can start a claim. Your insurer can work with a liable party’s insurance company to determine who is at fault. 

The other party’s insurance company should cover your losses if their client is to blame for your truck collision. Regardless, this insurer can dispute your claim. Thankfully, your attorney can explain how long after a truck accident you have to file a lawsuit and if they believe it is in your best interests to move forward with this option. 

Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (800)785-5000

What is the Full Cost of Your Truck Accident?

How much financial compensation you get in your case depends on how badly you were hurt and other factors. A truck accident attorney serving Jacksonville considers your quantifiable and subjective losses. They will encourage you to ask for compensation for myriad reasons, including:

• Medical Expenses: Typically, healthcare expenses are compensable in truck crash claims and lawsuits. These include medications, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. 
• Lost Wages: If you miss work because of your truck collision injuries, you can ask for compensation for your current and future lost income. 
• Auto Repair or Replacement Costs: Keep track of your auto repair and replacement expenses and other property damage costs, as you can request compensation for these.
• Pain and Suffering: These refer to compensation for emotional distress and physical trauma you experience due to your accident. 
• Other Non-Economic Losses: Examples of these damages include compensation awarded for scarring, loss of quality of life, and loss of consortium.
• Burial or Funeral Expenses: Sadly, a family member can die in a fatal truck crash. A Jacksonville wrongful death lawyer can help you take legal action against any liable parties and request compensation for your loved one’s burial and funeral expenses and other losses. 

A Jacksonville, NC truck accident lawyer understands how long a personal injury settlement takes. They commit time, energy, and resources to prepare a compelling argument. As part of their efforts, they gather evidence from a wide range of sources to support your case.  

Proof You Can Use in Your Truck Accident Case

Once you know who is liable for your truck accident in North Carolina, you can build a case against them. A Jacksonville, NC truck accident attorney accounts for your body of evidence as they craft your argument. Proof that could help you argue your case against a liable party includes:

• Photos and videos from the accident scene
• Statements from witnesses who saw your crash happen
• Medical records that highlight the severity of your injuries
• Black box data from the truck involved in your collision
• Truck driver logs that show how long the trucker in your crash had been behind the wheel
• Trucker’s cell phone records that indicate whether they were texting or making phone calls at the time of your collision
• Police report that details what caused your crash

Your lawyer collects and reviews evidence with you. If you have a comprehensive body of proof, it becomes challenging for an at-fault party or their insurance company to dispute your case against them.

Therefore, your evidence could prompt a liable party or their insurer to offer adequate compensation for your losses. 

How to Prove Negligence in Your Truck Accident Case 

Negligence refers to a failure to provide a level of care that a reasonable person would use in the same or similar circumstances. A truck accident lawyer serving Jacksonville, NC will investigate your crash.

To prove a party was negligent, your attorney will attempt to show that the following elements were present at the time of your collision: 

• Duty of Care: The defendant owed you a legal duty to act with a reasonable standard of care to avoid harming you or anyone else. 
• Breach of Duty of Care: The defendant did not maintain that duty of care and acted in a way that a reasonable person would not. 
• Causation: The defendant’s breach of their duty of care caused your accident, injuries, and damages. 
• Damages: You suffered medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other harm due to the defendant’s negligence. 

Establishing these elements of negligence is crucial for securing fair compensation in a personal injury claim stemming from a truck accident. Your lawyer wants to prove that another party is 100% responsible for your crash.

If you are found to be partly liable for your collision, you may be ineligible for damages based on North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule. 

What You Need to Know About Contributory Negligence in North Carolina

A truck accident attorney serving Jacksonville, NC can provide details about how contributory negligence hurts personal injury claims. With contributory negligence, a judge or jury can find you to be partly to blame for your truck collision. If this occurs, you are ineligible to receive damages, even if you are only 1% at fault. 

In your lawsuit, the defendant is likely to search for ways to prove you are partially liable. If they succeed, the court could rule against you. This means you would be liable for your crash-related losses. 

Your lawyer is aware of contributory negligence and its potential impact on your case. They account for how the defendant could present their case against you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jacksonville, NC Truck Accidents 

Your lawyer shares FAQs to help you make informed decisions throughout your truck crash case. If you have concerns or questions at any point during your case proceedings, share them with your attorney, and they will address them.

Here are answers to common questions that Jacksonville, NC truck crash lawyers receive from clients. 

Who is Liable for a Truck Accident?

Truck drivers and trucking companies are two parties commonly found to be at fault for collisions. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your crash, one or more parties could be sued in your truck accident case.

Outside of truck drivers and trucking companies, parties that could be named as defendants in your lawsuit include:

• Cargo loader
• Other drivers
• Truck manufacturer
• Government entity

Your Jacksonville, NC truck crash attorney examines the facts of your accident. They find out who is liable for your crash. Next, they can submit your insurance claim or lawsuit and look for ways to prove any liable parties were negligent and should be held accountable for your losses. 

Why Do Truck Accidents Happen?

Every truck collision occurs independently of others. The reason why your crash happened is based on who is involved in the incident, their actions, and if they chose to act carelessly or recklessly.

There are many reasons why truck crashes are reported in Jacksonville and other North Carolina cities and towns, including:

• Speeding 
• Distracted driving 
• Intoxication 
• Driver fatigue 
• Tailgating 
• Weaving in and out of lanes 
• Inexperienced driver 
• Disobeying traffic signals 
• Improperly loaded cargo 
• Failing to yield 
• Driver negligence 
• Lack of proper training 
• Cargo issues 
• Trucking company failing to maintain its vehicle fleet or provide accurate maintenance records 

Your attorney gets to the root of your accident. They ask you questions, gather information about roads and other crash details, and how the collision has impacted your life to date. Your lawyer uses their legal knowledge and insights to put you in a position to get damages from anyone who caused your crash. 

Should You Take Legal Action After a Truck Crash?

The legal process that follows a truck accident can be tricky, and it may make you feel like forgoing legal action is the ideal option. Yet, if you decide not to request compensation from a liable party, you are solely responsible for your crash-related losses. 

A personal injury attorney is familiar with the legal process associated with trucking accidents and truck accident claims. They protect your legal rights throughout this process. As such, it is beneficial to work with a lawyer who has achieved great case results, as they can help you pursue maximum compensation and avoid legal mistakes. 

During your litigation, your attorney wants you to receive medical care and focus on your health and well-being. Meanwhile, they can tackle any legal challenges that come your way. As your case progresses, they keep you updated and provide plenty of legal advice and guidance every step of the way. 

Should You File a Truck Accident Wrongful Death Claim?

You and your loved ones are mourning the loss of your family member in a fatal truck collision. Requesting compensation from anyone at fault for this accident might seem like it’s more trouble than it’s worth. However, if you consult with a wrongful death attorney, you may find that a claim is worthwhile. 

A wrongful death lawyer can help you seek justice and compensation for losses you have incurred due to your loved one’s death. They can provide insights into who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you are eligible to submit one, your attorney can serve as your legal representative and advocate during your litigation. 

Your attorney realizes how emotionally exhausting a wrongful death case can be for you and your loved ones. They prioritize your case and work hard to help you secure compensation. Your lawyer is compassionate and empathetic and ensures that your legal needs are met continuously.

Our Jacksonville Truck Accident Attorneys Give the Legal Process the Attention it Deserves

Trucking accidents have long-lasting effects on victims and their families. Those who get hurt in accidents involving commercial vehicles have the right to request compensation through insurance claims and truck accident lawsuits. Get help from an experienced attorney familiar with the ins and outs of truck crash cases if you want to pursue either of these options.

Whitley Law Firm is a Jacksonville, NC personal injury law firm that treats you like family. We help truck accident victims and their families recover compensation that matches or exceeds their expectations. Request a case consultation with us.