Trucking Accidents

Trucking accidents differ from auto collisions in many ways, and an attorney who can put together a car wreck case may not be able to effectively prosecute a trucking case.

The most obvious difference is the extent of the injuries and damages that result when a large commercial vehicle strikes a smaller, passenger vehicle. These large "18 wheeler" tractor-trailers combinations often weigh in excess of 80,000 pounds and, thus, trucking accidents almost always result in significantly greater injuries to the victims.

In response to the dangers posed by commercial vehicles, the federal government and states across America have implemented rules and regulations designed to protect the public from the negligent actions of truck drivers and trucking companies. For example, federal and state "hours of service" regulations require truckers to have adequate rest to prevent driver fatigue on the highway. There are also other specific rules for trucks including proper loading of the materials the truck is carrying, and safety rules on traveling speeds and safety when passing other vehicles. Many modern trucks have devices that allow for the reconstruction of the trucker's actions just before an impact and all truckers are required to keep logs of their time.

Knowing how and when to assemble the evidence in a trucking case is the key to success: often, a lawsuit must be filed immediately to prevent the destruction of crucial evidence; the electronic control module (ECM) on the truck may be downloaded to provide evidence of the 18-wheeler's actions just prior to the collision; an accident reconstructionist can be brought in to examine the mechanics of the crash sequence and calculate impact speeds; a trucking operations expert may review the records and help identify the causes of the driver's negligence; and a biomechanical expert may shed some light on how the vehicle occupants moved inside the vehicle during the crash sequence, and how this movement likely resulted in specific injuries.

Our attorneys have successfully resolved many multi-million dollar trucking cases, by jury verdict and by pre-trial settlement. We are very familiar with what it takes to start and finish a trucking case, regardless of the size or complexity of the matter.