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What You Can Do if Your Loved One Was in a Truck Accident

Jun 18, 2020

The Leading Personal Injury Lawyer in Monroe, NC Examines Your Options

Serious injury and even death can result from catastrophic truck accidents. If someone you know and love has suffered a devastating injury from a truck accident, it is important to know what you can do to ensure they are taken care of. To help, the leading personal injury lawyer, Monroe, NC firm Law Offices of William K. Goldfarb, is here to break down your options. 

Make Sure Your Loved One is Receiving Proper Medical Care

Your Loved One’s Health Should Remain One of Your Main Priorities

As you determine how to handle the legal aspects of your loved one’s accident, you must also pay special attention to their medical needs. Many truck crashes cause serious, and even fatal, injuries to occupants of the car. For some car passengers, their first emergency visit is the first step to a long medical journey to recovery. Your loved one might require a series of surgeries or long-term care such as physical therapy and rehabilitation programs. 

Some of the most common injuries that result from truck accidents include:

  • Head Injuries: Serious head trauma causing a loss of motor skills or the development of cognitive issues may result from a truck accident. Sometimes, symptoms of a head injury do not appear until after the accident. Headaches, dizziness, confusion, and vision problems are some of the most common symptoms of a head injury. 
  • Back and Neck Injuries: Many people involved in truck accidents experience whiplash — a neck injury occurring as a result of a rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. In some of the most serious truck accidents, internal decapitation, also known as atlanto-occipital dislocation, can occur. The road to recovery from a damaging — though rare — injury like this one can be long and painful. 
  • Broken Bones: Due to the immense force and power of a truck, many victims of these accidents suffer from broken bones. Some patients may have to undergo surgery or a bone fracture repair, during which the surgeon places metal screws, rods, pins, or plates at the site of the injury. Others may receive a cast. However, broken bones do not always heal properly. As a result, your loved one might have to undergo additional medical procedures before the bone finally heals. 
  • Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma to the internal organs such as the liver and the spleen can also occur as a result of a truck accident. If these organs are critically injured, they can be extremely difficult to repair. Truck accidents can also cause internal bleeding in its victims, which is often indicated by confusion, weakness, fatigue, and blood in vomit or urine. 
  • Bruises and Lacerations: Bruises and lacerations are also common results of a serious truck accident. If a person is thrown from their vehicle, they may experience road burn. Road burn occurs when the skin comes in quick contact with the surface of the road forming rashes and abrasions. In the most severe cases, skin grafting may be required for open wounds. 

Document Everything You Know

A Personal Injury Lawyer in Monroe, NC Tells You What Files You Need to Keep

Your loved one may have a legal case against the truck driver or the owners of the trucking company involved in the accident. If the trucking company and its insurance company don’t treat your loved one fairly and properly, you might be forced to file a lawsuit against the driver and the trucking company.  In this case, it is critical that you gather physical evidence of your loved one’s injuries as well as any details you can gather from the scene of the accident.

Remember to take note of the accident’s surrounding area, any traffic signals and signs nearby, nearby lanes of traffic, and any other factors that could have played a role in the accident.

If anyone witnessed the accident, make sure you take their contact information down. You may even ask any businesses located near the vicinity of the accident to see if their video footage captured its events. 

Other factors that could play a critical role in filing a truck accident lawsuit include:

  • Medical bills
  • Police reports
  • Travel costs and any other expenses related to medical treatment

Find a Leading Personal Injury Lawyer in Monroe, NC to Assist You

An Experienced Lawyer Can Give You the Help That You and Your Family Need

Should you and your loved one be forced to file a lawsuit against the trucker or trucking company involved in the accident, you will need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer in Monroe, NC to assist you. An attorney is trained to handle your loved one’s claims process with their insurance company while also helping you manage the aforementioned tips. While your personal injury lawyer works tirelessly to advocate on behalf of your loved one, you can keep your focus on monitoring their mental and physical health. 

As you search for a lawyer, remember to take these factors into consideration:

  • Proven track record helping similar victims
  • Past client testimonials
  • Credentials and education
  • Experience with trucking collision cases

Are you currently on the hunt for a leading personal injury lawyer in Monroe, NC? Contact the team at the Law Offices of William K. Goldfarb to learn how they can help you. Led by William Goldfarb, the firm offers 30 years of legal experience in assisting victims of truck accidents.  

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Jun 9, 2020

The Top Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyer Reviews the 5 Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Due to their tremendous size and weight, commercial trucks present a high level of danger to passenger vehicles. With 18-wheeler trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds and passenger vehicles weighing an average of 4,000 pounds, it is no wonder that occupants of passenger vehicles face a higher risk of serious injury or death in an accident. A variety of factors can lead to a vehicle accident, such as poor weather, driver fatigue, or equipment failure. In our latest article, an experienced Charlotte truck accident lawyer reviews the 5 most common causes of commercial truck accidents. 

1. Driving in Poor Weather

Bad Weather Can Throw Off Even the Most Experienced Commercial Truck Drivers

If a truck driver is not properly trained or if they underestimate the severity of the current weather conditions, they can put both themselves and other drivers around them at risk. During poor weather conditions, these drivers must practice extreme caution. They may even have to pull over to the side of the road if the dangerous weather conditions persist or grow worse. Failure to practice safe driving practices can result in severe injury or even death. 

Both commercial truck drivers and members of passenger vehicles should remain aware of the driving risks associated with different weather conditions, including: 

  • Rain — A heavy downpour can cause slippery road conditions. If a driver does not know how to properly brake without skidding or jackknifing, they pose a serious risk to the vehicles near them. 
  • Ice and Snow — Icy roads are also particularly difficult for truck drivers to navigate. Due to the weight of the truck, drivers can easily lose control of their vehicles when attempting to maneuver them 
  • Fog — Fog causes poor visibility, thereby increasing the chances of a commercial truck accidentally hitting another vehicle. 

2. Equipment Failure

Forgetting to Regularly Inspect Equipment or Properly Maintain a Truck Can Result in Equipment Failure

Commercial truck drivers clock in thousands of miles every day. As a result, their trucks go through quite a bit of wear and tear. In order to keep their vehicles safe and properly-functioning, drivers and their crews must maintain the truck on a regular basis. Operating a truck while it is in need of maintenance — such as a worn brake pedal or a broken windshield — could cause a catastrophic traffic accident. Because of the dangers that a malfunctioning truck can inflict, drivers are required to inspect their rig and submit a vehicle maintenance report at the beginning of each shift.  Equipment manufacturers could also be held responsible for an accident if investigators find a damaged or defective part in the truck. Parties that could be deemed liable include the equipment parts manufacturer, trucking company, and even any mechanics who  performed repairs on the vehicle. 

3. Engaging in Dangerous Driving Practices

Passenger Drivers Can Pose a Risk to Both Themselves and Nearby Vehicles

It is important to note that commercial truck drivers are not always at fault when an accident occurs. Passenger vehicles put themselves at a greater risk of causing an accident or sustaining serious injuries from an accident when engaging in unsafe driving practices. To protect yourself and the passengers of your vehicle, you should avoid:

  • Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
  • Cutting in front of another passenger vehicle or commercial truck 
  • Tailgating 
  • Driving in a truck’s blind spot
  • Driving while drowsy or extremely fatigued 
  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving from texting or attempting to multi-task

4. Truck Driver Fatigue

Driving While Drowsy Can Have Devastating Consequences 

Driving while fatigued is a major problem among commercial truck drivers. In fact, the CDC found that commercial drivers were more likely to suffer from drowsiness than regular drivers who are able to follow a regular work and sleep schedule. Truck driver fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors including a lack of sleep, attempting to drive while sick, or exhaustion from working too many hours.  

5. Overloaded Cargo

Improper or Overloaded Cargo Can Fall Off a Truck, Causing a Catastrophic Accident

Because of the sheer weight and size of the loads that commercial trucks carry, drivers must abide by specific industry standards when loading the bed of their truck. Each load must pass various weight, size, length, width, and height requirements before being approved for transportation. Companies must employ special methods for securing their cargo. Any mistakes or negligence that occurs during the procedure could cause the load to fall into the road and cause a severe accident. 

If you were involved in a commercial vehicle accident and need to speak with an experienced Charlotte truck accident lawyer, contact the Law Offices of William K. Goldfarb to schedule a free consultation. For over 30 years, the legal team at the Law Offices of William K. Goldfarb has successfully helped various clients who suffered from personal injury and damages as a result of commercial truck accidents.

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