Opelika Truck Accident Lawyer

Any motor vehicle accident can be a traumatic experience. Yet, a crash involving a heavy commercial truck can leave lasting physical and psychological damages.

Collisions with commercial trucks can leave you with catastrophic injuries that change the course of your entire life. If you sustained damages in a wreck because of a trucker’s negligence, contact a dedicated Opelika truck accident lawyer at Bence Law Firm, LLC as soon as possible. An experienced personal injury attorney like David Bence could fight for the compensation you need to recover for the full extent of your losses.

What Are Blind Spot Truck Accidents?

Massive commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks have four significant blind spots or no-zones. The four truck no-zones include:

• Approximately 30 feet behind the vehicle
• About 20 feet in front of the semi-truck
• The no-zone on the right side of the cab expands roughly the length of the truck
• The blind spot on the left side also extends approximately the size of the truck

When drivers outside the truck cannot see the trucker in their vehicle’s side mirror, it is likely the trucker cannot see them either.

Determining the Liable Party in Truck Crashes

If an accident happens because of a trucker’s negligent actions, they could be a liable party. However, in most circumstances, the truck driver does not own the vehicle they operate. Instead, the trucker’s employer—or in some cases, the shipper—owns and is responsible for the truck’s maintenance.

If the accident involves equipment or mechanical problems, the owner could be the responsible party. The defendant could also be the truck manufacturer as well as any other parties responsible for the shipment. Many commercial truck lawsuits involve multiple defendants.

Recovering Damages After a Truck Accident

After the injured party proves the defendant’s liability, the court could award damages to cover any of the following:

• All current and future medical care costs related to the truck crash
• Payment for the loss of salary while the victim misses work to recover
• Future earning potential and the loss of benefits
• Physical and psychological pain and suffering

A proactive Opelika truck accident attorney could help collect evidence to prove an injured person’s damages and build a solid lawsuit for recovery. They could complete a thorough investigation to determine the negligent parties and hold them accountable for all of a victim’s losses.

Limits on the Hours of Service

The federal government limits the time a truck driver may remain behind the wheel before taking a break. These laws are in place to avoid accidents caused by truckers who have not had an adequate amount of sleep. According to the 49 Code of Federal Regulation Part 395, commercial drivers may drive 11 hours after being off duty for ten hours. Truckers must also take a 30-minute break when going for eight consecutive hours or more.

Though, importantly, there is an exception during poor weather conditions. During inclement weather, truckers may extend the driving time to 14 hours, if necessary.

When drivers fail to follow federal laws and cause accidents, they could face civil and criminal penalties. A knowledgeable truck accident

lawyer in Opelika could answer questions on how federal safety rules and regulations may apply to a specific case.

Enlist the Help of a Seasoned Opelika Truck Accident Attorney

A collision with a tractor-trailer can lead to life-altering, long-term or permanent disabilities, and psychological injuries. You may be left unable to work with no money coming in and mounting medical expenses and bills.

You and your family do not have to go through these challenging times alone. If a negligent party caused the crash, you have the right to hold them financially accountable. Call an Opelika truck accident lawyer at Bence Law Firm, LLC today if you need help with a claim.