TRUCK ACCIDENTS

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Tractor Trailer Accident Claims in AR

Tractor trailer accidents occur daily in the United States. With so many trucks on the roads working to transport goods throughout the country, drivers are pushed to maintain strict schedules and timelines. Often this alone can cause undue stress on truck drivers, which can lead to accidents.

It is very important to hire an experienced Arkansas truck accident lawyer to handle your tractor trailer accident claim because these cases tend to be much more complex. Identifying who was at fault is critical to seeking fair compensation.

Hire Caddell Reynolds Law Firm To Handle Your Distracted Driving Accident Claim

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver call our firm for help at 800-671-4100. Our experienced texting and driving accident attorneys will speak with you for free and answer your questions.

Caddell Reynolds Law Firm will fight to protect your rights. If you were harmed in an accident due to negligence, we will seek the maximum recovery for you and your family. We’ll fight to seek compensation to pay for all of your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, therapy sessions, medications, pain and suffering, and more.

OFTEN TIMES AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED TO FIGURE OUT THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE TRUCK ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS ON THE SURFACE. CADDELL REYNOLDS LAW FIRM CAN HELP. CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!.

What Can Cause A Truck Accident?

The sheer size and weight of 18-wheeler accidents can cause severe injuries and fatalities. Identifying and proving negligence in these cases can be much more complex. At Caddell Reynolds Law Firm, we will work to find out what happened; was it driver fatigue, poor truck maintenance, an overloaded or unbalanced truck, drinking and driving, or a combination of any of those things? We will dig deep to get to the truth of what happened.

Tractor-trailer Accident Types

At our firm, there is never an attorney’s fee due up front. In fact, you owe us nothing until we recover for you. We have offices conveniently located throughout Arkansas to better serve you.

• Jackknife – Jackknifing refers to when a truck with two parts (cab and trailer) fold in on itself. The cab and trailer move together to create a shape that looks like a pocket knife.
• Truck Rollovers – Rollovers occur when the truck’s wheels lose contact with the road. This Causes the truck to end up on its side or even upside-down.
• Tire Blowout – This is the sudden loss of air pressure or explosion of a tire. This can be caused by weather or defect.
• Wide Turn – Accidents like this can happen with the tractor trailer much use both lanes in order to complete a turn safely.
• Lost Load – Cargo sometimes is not adequately secured and ends up on the highway, which results in a serious injury accident.
• T-Bone – This happens when one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming the shape of a “T”.
• Blind Spots – A truck’s blind spot can be a larger area. When a truck driver cannot see another vehicle when switching lanes this could cause an accident.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents:

• Distracted driving
• Sleepiness/ fatigue
• Driving while impaired
• Speeding
• Lack of experience

Common Injuries in Truck Accidents

• Back inquires
• Neck injuries
• Burn injuries
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries

Our Arkansas truck accident lawyers understand that the driver may share liability with other parties, including the following:

• Trucking companies – Drivers must follow the rules and regulations set forth by their employers. Companies may require them to drive too long without rest, put inexperienced drivers on long hauls before they are ready to handle them, or even put trucks on the road with an imbalanced load or without proper maintenance.
• Maintenance personnel – Improper inspections or rushed maintenance can cause serious problems, particularly when brakes or tires are involved. Whether the maintenance personnel works for the company or maintenance is performed by an outside shop, a truck accident attorney needs to know the facts to ensure everyone responsible for an accident is named in a suit.
• Local, state, and federal governments – The true cause of a big vehicle accident may be an encounter with a sinkhole or other major road flaw that is the responsibility of local, state, or even federal government. The attorneys at Caddell Reynolds Law Firm have the skills and experience to pursue even these difficult cases.

Any type of accidental injury deserves a full investigation when it is caused by the negligence of another. Our lawyers address all details to ensure your case gets the full attention it deserves.

Trucking Industry Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a Department of Transportation agency dedicated to regulating the nation’s trucking industry. It has created a long list of regulations that all commercial truck drivers and their employers must follow. Each regulation is designed to promote safety within the industry and for all motorists, so it can be said that violating any regulation is inherently dangerous.

Some of the most important FMSCA trucking regulations are:

• Hours of operation: Truck drivers cannot be scheduled for more than 14 hours in a shift, and 3 of those hours must take place while not behind the wheel of the truck. This FMCSA regulation is one of the most commonly violated, though, and it is not uncommon for a truck driver to be completely exhausted while driving.
• Speed limits: While driving along the highway, you have probably noticed signs that announce speed limits specifically for trucks. Many of these limits are imposed by the FMCSA. However, truckers are paid by the delivery job completed, not by the hour. To try to complete more jobs in a week, some truckers are tempted to break the speed limit.
• Weight limits: Most commercial trucks must not weigh more than 80,000 pounds with all parts, components, and cargo included. When this weight limit is exceeded, the overloaded truck will take longer to brake, could tip over when turning, and will generally be more difficult for the trucker to control safely.
• Cargo securement: Certain types of cargo must be secured in specific ways when hauled via commercial truck, semi-truck, or big rig. Failing to follow these securement guidelines can increase the risk of cargo coming loose, falling off the truck, and causing a huge accident.

Truck Accident Statistics

Information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that there are more than 4,000 traffic fatalities per year in accidents caused by or involving large commercial trucks. About 75% of those fatalities are suffered by people in other vehicles and roughly 10% of those fatalities are suffered by bicyclists, pedestrians, and other “nonoccupants.” This number of annual truck accident fatalities is relatively small compared to the total number of traffic fatalities per year, but it is still harrowing, especially when factoring in serious injuries. In the last few years, more than 100,000 people have been severely injured in truck accidents, atop those who lost their lives.

How We Can Help

Caddell Reynolds Law Firm can help with all aspects of your truck accident claim. We can manage it from start to finish, so you don’t have to. From investigating the crash and adding up your damages to filing a claim and negotiating for a settlement, we can do it all. You might ask how can we help you? But the better question might be: “What can’t we do?”

CADDELL REYNOLDS LAW FIRM AT 800-671-4100 TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION. WE CAN ALSO BE REACHED BY CONTACTING US ONLINE.

Truck Accident FAQ

• How is fault determined in a truck accident?
  To determine fault in a truck accident, an attorney will usually conduct a thorough investigation of all available evidence and evidence that has not yet been uncovered. Liability hinges on negligence. When someone does something that a reasonable person would not have done in the same situation, and that decision or action causes harm, that party has been negligent.
• Who is liable in a truck accident – the driver or the trucking company?
  Liability in a truck accident case could be placed on the truck driver or the trucking company that paid them. The outcome will depend on how liability is decided. Truck drivers are mostly or solely liable if the crash was caused by speeding, intoxication, distraction, and other forms of reckless driving. Trucking companies can be liable if they hire a truck driver who is not qualified to perform the job, such as someone without a commercial driver’s license or with a record of reckless driving.
• Can I sue the truck driver’s company for my injuries?
  As mentioned, trucking companies can be liable for a truck accident, so they can be sued by injured parties after a crash. There are pros and cons to suing a trucking company. A benefit is that the insurance policy held by the trucking company will probably have a higher policy limit than a policy held by just by a trucker. The disadvantage is that the trucking company might have a specialized legal department on standby to defend against claims, which makes it even more important to hire a trustworthy truck accident lawyer.

Recommended Reading

• 5 Tips for Safely Sharing the Road with Semi-Trucks
• 5 Tractor-Trailer Crash Facts
• Sharing The Roads With Tractor Trailers
• Common Causes Of Tractor Trailer Accidents

If You Have Been Injured, We Are Here for You