Huntsville Truck Accidents
Huntsville is located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama. It is served by I-565 and U.S. Highways 72, 231, and 431. Numerous road projects have been underway in Huntsville between 2014 and 2018, and the fast-paced economic growth in the region has resulted in an increase in truck traffic on its highways. Large commercial trucks present a significant danger to drivers with whom they share the road. When a commercial truck collides with a pedestrian, bicyclist, or smaller passenger car, the outcome can be devastating, due to the weight and size of the truck. As a result, the trucking industry has been subject to numerous federal and state regulations. If you are injured in a truck crash, Huntsville truck accident lawyer Greg Reeves at the Reeves Law Firm may be able to represent you.
Take Legal Action Based on a Truck AccidentThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has promulgated federal regulations that set safety standards to which interstate truck drivers and trucking companies engaged in interstate business must adhere. Among other things, the FMCSA regulations restrict a truck driver's hours of service to reduce the number of fatigued truck drivers on the road. There are mandatory rest breaks and a maximum number of consecutive hours that may be driven. Truck drivers are supposed to record their hours of service in a logbook, and the logbook should be a correct record of what they did. A common violation among truck drivers is failing to properly record their time.
Under the FMCSA regulations, truck drivers and trucking companies must also ensure that their trucks are properly working and regularly maintained. They are also supposed to keep accurate maintenance records and follow rules related to the securing of cargo. An improperly maintained truck or a truck on which cargo is not secured can be dangerous. A truck accident attorney can help Huntsville residents hold a driver or company accountable for violating a regulation.
The state of Alabama has its own regulations for commercial trucks, but many of them are adopted from the FMCSA standards. Truck drivers and trucking companies operating only in Alabama must abide by the state safety regulations.
Determining fault in a commercial truck or tractor-trailer accident case is crucial. The fault may lie with the truck driver. To establish the truck driver's fault, you will need to show the truck driver's duty toward you, a breach of duty, actual and proximate causation, and actual damages. A truck driver can breach the duty to use reasonable care by behaviors such as speeding, failing to obey signs or signals, weaving, failing to yield, taking curves too fast, drunk driving, fatigued driving, texting while driving, or failing to properly load cargo. A truck driver's violation of state or federal regulations can be strong evidence of a breach of the duty to use reasonable care.
A trucking company may also bear responsibility for a truck accident. A Huntsville truck accident attorney can help you hold a company vicariously liable for a truck driver's negligent acts or omissions in the course of employment. In addition, it can be held directly liable under theories of negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision. A trucking company's failure to follow applicable federal or state regulations in connection with hiring or supervising a truck driver who causes an accident can serve as strong evidence of negligence. For example, a trucking company that looks the other way when presented with falsified logbooks could be held liable for negligent supervision if a fatigued driver falls asleep on the road and therefore gets into an accident that causes injuries to people in cars or other vehicles.
In some cases, it may be appropriate to hire an accident reconstruction specialist and other experts to establish that the cause of the accident was a mechanical failure or a dangerous road condition. It may be possible to file a lawsuit for damages against the manufacturer or road owner.
The nature and extent of the damages depend on the types of harm sustained, such as brain injuries, back injuries, soft tissue injuries, or burns. Damages may include medical bills, loss of income, rehabilitation, replacement services, and pain and suffering.
Consult a Truck Accident Lawyer in the Huntsville AreaIf you are injured in a serious collision involving a tractor-trailer, you should contact the Reeves Law Firm. Greg Reeves has 30 years of legal experience and has served as staff at the prestigious Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College since 2011. He fights for the rights of victims in Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, and California. Call us at 256-355-3311 or use our online form to set up a free consultation.