Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Dothan & All Alabama
The truck accident lawyers at our Mobile and Dothan offices have more than 130 years of combined experience helping victims of negligent truckers get the compensation they deserve. If you have been injured in a truck crash, we are here to review your claim for FREE and help you understand your options.
Accidents with large commercial vehicles often result in catastrophic injury for the occupants of smaller cars, vans, and trucks. While the term “large truck” is typically applied to any commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds, 18-wheelers can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds in the United States. Add to this the size of the average semi-truck, 13.5 inches tall and 72 feet long, and it’s easy to see how even a low-speed collision could prove serious or even fatal for people in passenger vehicles.
With our decades of experience, the truck accident lawyers at Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, LLC know how to build strong cases for victims of serious injury. Call us at 844-654-6228 to schedule a FREE case review at one of our Southern Alabama offices and learn more about your legal options.
Testimonials From Former Clients
I would highly recommend Cory Driggers. He kept me informed all during my case. I never felt left in the dark. He was always straightforward with me . I can’t express how impressed I was with him.
Joey (and his team) was extremely helpful in a time when we did not know what to do. His professional approach gave us assurance while he settled our case.
I would recommend Mr. Driggers to anybody needing legal help him and his staff first of all are very nice to you and act like they are very understanding to your needs. He talked to me on the phone like he knew me all my life and that really mattered to me. When we had our hearing he treated me like he had already met me and he hadn’t, I just really loved him and have already been telling people about him and his office.
Hired Joseph Morris to handle my car accident and he did a great job at handling the case and explained the process as the case went. I would highly recommend him.
“I was pleased with their work and the outcome of my case.”
“Never in a million years did I believe that these attorneys would do everything possible to seek justice.”
“I’ve had Joey take care of three separate cases and two for other family members. The service was always great and he was always there to answer my questions no matter how many times I called. Great m …”
Mr.Driggers is a wonderful Lawyer that knows the law, he helped me when I had no idea in my situation where to start and what to do, he worked with me hands on and got the best results for me in my case. It was a privilege to get to know him as my lawyer and a friend. If you need legal representation call him you will be satisfied.
“Our family is so thankful for Mark, Dan and their entire team. Every step of the way they made sure we were comfortable and understood every aspect of our case. It was apparent that our interest was …”
The staff handled my case in a prompt and professional manner. They returned my calls in a timely fashion and was always prepared to answer any questions. Furthermore, Attorney Driggers is a Christian man and first class professional. I am certainly happy that i was represented by this Law Firm.
Love, love, love these people! When no one out there seems to care, let me tell you that this group right here will fight tooth and nail for you.
I would highly recommend Cory Driggers. He kept me informed all during my case. I never felt left in the dark. He was always straightforward with me. I can’t express how impressed I was with him.
Cory Driggers represented my daughter following an car accident. He showed real genuine care for her and the case. He and his staff worked to get all of the medical bills gathered and also to get them decreased. Cory kept us updated and contacted my daughter when decisions needed to be made. Ultimately, Cory got what my daughter deserved for her injuries and my daughter was completely satisfied. I would recommend Cory to anyone that is looking for a good Christian attorney. Thanks Cory for your help!
Attorney Driggers and his team did a wonderful job with my case. They were professional and pleasant. They were patient with me and answered all my questions. They addressed all my concerns from the first conversation to the last. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing an attorney.
Cory and his staff are very professional and make you feel at ease whether it is by phone or in person. My case was solved quickly and very efficiently. Thanks for everything!!
Cory was absolutely fantastic. He settled my case beyond what I could even imagine. Not only was he very knowledgeable concerning the law, he was available whenever we needed him, Cory was also so kind and courteous to us at all times. During the time since my case ended I have called on Cory several times to ask questions related to situations I have had going on and he has always been available to help me. I would recommend Cory without a second thought to any friend, family member, co-worker or acquaintance.
What Are the Top Causes of Alabama Truck Accidents?
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation Crash Facts, the leading cause of truck accidents in our state is improper lane change or use. These can lead to side collisions or, in some cases, vehicles becoming trapped underneath a trailer, an event known as “underride.”
According to Crash Facts, rounding out the five most common causes of Alabama truck accidents are:
- Failure to Yield the Right of Way
- Unseen Objects
- Tailgating
- Misjudgment of Stopping Distance
Consistent with the findings of the state of Alabama, the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, a continuing effort of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has found that the leading cause of truck accident injuries is “Running out of the travel lane, either into another lane or off the road.” This is followed by improper speeds, shifting cargo, system failures, and poor road conditions.
At Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, our lawyers know how to investigate truck accidents to determine their underlying causes. This often includes issues such as:
- Aggressive Driving Behavior
- Distracted Driving
- Driver Intoxication or Drunk Driving
- Lack of Qualified and Adequately Trained Drivers
- Mechanical Failure or Breakdown
- Improper Maintenance
- Unrealistic Deadlines That Lead to Drowsy Driving
- Violations of Federal Trucking Laws
- Manufacturing Defects
No matter its cause, if you have been injured in a truck accident, our firm is here to help you hold the negligent party responsible for their actions so that you can recover the damages you seek. We will help you investigate the circumstances and events surrounding your accident, review truck driver logs, interview witnesses, collect maintenance records, and gather all of the supporting evidence needed to substantiate your lawsuit or claim.
What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?
Common types of truck accidents include:
- Jackknifing. When the front cab and rear trailer come to an angle. Speed is a common cause of jackknife accidents
- Rollover. When a trailer, cab, or both roll over. Improperly loaded cargo is a common cause of rollovers.
- Underride. When a trailer traps a smaller vehicle underneath. Improper lane changes are a common cause of underride accidents.
In addition to these, T-bone accidents and head-on collisions are common between semi-trucks and smaller vehicles. These can be a result of distraction, inexperienced truckers, and much more.
How Serious Are Most Truck Accident Injuries?
There are hundreds of thousands of truck crashes every year – more than 400,000 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – and many of them result in severe, life-altering, and catastrophic injuries. Tragically, many also result in death.
Common truck accident injuries include:
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Internal Organ Damage
- Crushed or Pulverized Bone
- Burns and Electrocution
Additionally, injuries to the ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the back and neck are common in truck accidents.
Many of the injuries caused by a collision with an 18-wheeler will require emergency treatment followed by days or even weeks of hospitalization while you stabilize. This period may be followed by years of physical therapy and rehabilitation, an inability to work, and untold amounts of personal struggle and pain. When your injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, all of these things must be taken into account in the pursuit of fair and full compensation.
The lifetime cost of dealing with a catastrophic injury, such as SCI or TBI, can be astronomical, with some estimates nearing $5 million. Coupled with the potential need for round-the-clock care, accessibility reconstruction, and other related expenses, victims of serious injury often find themselves in dire need of assistance. Before you take what is likely an insufficient offer from insurance, talk to one of our Dothan truck accident lawyers to learn what your case may really be worth.
Notable Verdicts & Settlements
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Alabama
When you are in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, your first priority should be your immediate safety. Contact 911 and request emergency personnel be sent to your location.
If you are able, collect the contact information of those involved in the accident. Be sure to get the name, phone number, and insurance information of everyone involved, including other victims. Ask any witnesses for their contact information, as well.
Take pictures of the scene from multiple angles. Include as much detail as possible, making sure to capture surroundings, road conditions, and anything else that may have contributed to the crash.
Once the police arrive, give them a statement and write down their badge numbers. In your statement, do not suggest you are in any way responsible for the accident.
Most truck accident injuries are severe. In these cases, it is impossible for victims to take action on the scene or even in the immediate aftermath of an accident. If your injury prevents you from taking pictures, gathering contact information, or talking to emergency personnel, we will gather as much of this information as possible during our thorough truck accident investigation.
We recommend that you don’t talk about the accident with the truck driver and avoid discussing details of the accident with an insurance company until you have had a chance to talk to us. There are typically multiple insurance companies involved in truck accident cases. Each of these will have their policy and shareholder’s best interests in mind. Each will be looking for ways to reduce or completely deny compensation should you file a claim. And each knows that, if they can convince you to take an offer, you won’t be able to take further action.
Before you accept an offer from an insurance company, call our Mobile truck crash lawyers for a free consultation. We will review your case and take into account all of the ways your injuries have and may continue to impact your life to help you understand if your claim has been undervalued.
Should I See a Doctor?
It is always best to see a doctor after a truck accident, even if there is no immediate sign of injury. The latent onset of serious injuries like TBI and SCI is not uncommon, with the former sometimes taking months or even years to show signs or symptoms. Having a thorough examination from a trusted medical provider is the best way to rule out these devastating truck accident injuries.
Many of the long-term complications from SCI and TBI are comorbidities that occur years after the initial injury. These may include physical issues such as muscle pain, degenerative disorders including osteoarthritis, metabolic disorders such as hypertension and diabetes, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and much more. Swift diagnosis of serious injury allows for rapid treatment, which may help to reduce the risk of developing these and other complications.
How Is Liability Established After a Truck Accident?
In some instances, truck accident liability is fairly cut and dry. In others, the combination of several factors can make determining who is liable for a truck accident much more difficult. But even in the most seemingly obvious cases, a thorough investigation conducted by an experienced truck crash lawyer is the best way to find out who can be held responsible.
Our attorneys conduct comprehensive investigations to establish liability after a truck accident. This allows us to carefully consider each individual factor that may have played a role. In truck accident claims, this often includes people who were nowhere near the scene of the accident.
Potentially liable parties in a truck accident include:
- The Truck Driver. Distraction, intoxication, aggressive driving, and similarly dangerous behaviors are the trucker driver’s alone.
- The Trucking Company. Unrealistic schedules, improperly or overloaded trailers, and poor maintenance may shift liability to the company the trucker drives for.
- 18-Wheeler and Component Part Manufacturers. Defective brakes, faulty airbags, poorly manufactured tires, and mechanical failures may shift some of the blame to the companies who designed, manufactured, or installed the parts.
- Government Entities. Local governments are usually responsible for maintaining roads and warning of hazards. Federal entities are responsible for ensuring trucks are properly weighted and balanced when they reach weigh stations. Failure to maintain safety regulations is a leading cause of truck accidents.
It is important to remember that, with truck accidents, several parties may share the blame. For example, an accident caused by a drowsy truck driver may have actually been the result of an unrealistic schedule imposed by an employer that forced the driver to violate federal hours of service regulations. Or a rollover accident caused by an apparent loss of vehicle control may actually be the result of a vehicle or parts failure. Properly establishing liability means careful consideration of every variable.
In cases where multiple parties may share part of the blame, our firm is here to identify each through the investigative process. In this way, we can hold all liable parties to full account for the damages you have suffered.
How Much Is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?
Each truck accident claim is unique. Your injury will impact your health and happiness in entirely personal ways. Your truck accident claim is, therefore, worth every penny you have lost and every moment you have suffered.
Our personal injury lawyers typically seek two types of compensation for victims of truck wrecks:
- Establishable Damages. Sometimes known as special damages or economic damages, establishable items include medical bills, lost wages, home modifications, and other items with a demonstrable cost.
- Pain and Suffering. More commonly known as general damages or noneconomic damages, compensation for pain and suffering addresses physical and emotional discomfort, loss of enjoyment, and similar issues.
In extremely rare cases, exemplary damages, also known as punitive damages, may be sought as well. These seek to punish intentional or extremely negligent behavior. Unlike general and special damages, punitive damages are capped in Alabama. (See Alabama Code § 6-11-21)
During your obligation-free case assessment with one of our lawyers, we will listen as you explain how your injury has impacted your life, carefully review your establishable damages, and help you determine how much your truck accident case is really worth.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Alabama?
Per Alabama Code § 6-2-38, you have “two years from the time the cause of action accrues” to file a truck accident lawsuit. There may be exceptions to this rule in rare cases, though these are extremely uncommon and do not always work to the benefit of victims. And, because these cases can be extremely complex, it is best to file as soon as possible after the crash regardless of how much time you have been afforded.
Two years is not a significant amount of time when you are recovering from an injury. It can often pass before you know it, leaving you holding the bag without the option of recourse. Taking action immediately is the best way to protect your rights and options.
When you come to us with your truck accident claim, we will get to work right away to investigate its causes, establish liability, and determine the best course of action.
Contact Our Dothan Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Have you been involved in a truck accident in Alabama? Contact Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers online or by calling 844-654-6228 to schedule your complimentary case review right away. Our attorneys fight for victims of serious injury living throughout the state from our offices in Dothan and Mobile. We also provide representation for truck crash victims living in the Florida Panhandle and Southwest Georgia.
What Evidence Is Needed in a Truck Accident Case?
The evidence needed in a truck accident case falls into two categories: (i) evidence of fault; and, (ii) evidence of damages. Evidence of fault can include things like forensic evidence from the crash site, eye-witness testimony, cell phone photos, traffic camera footage, and the truck driver’s phone records and driving logs. Evidence of damages can include things like medical records, employment records, receipts for prescriptions and medical supplies, and documentation of pain and suffering.
Are Truck Drivers Tested for Alcohol and Drugs After a Crash?
Federal trucking regulations require that truck drivers be tested for alcohol and drugs after a crash in some (but not all) cases. Specifically, testing is federally required if a truck driver is involved in: (i) a fatal accident; (ii) an accident that requires at least one vehicle to be towed from the scene; or, (iii) an accident resulting in immediate medical treatment if the driver received a citation.
Even if alcohol and drug testing is not federally required, a truck driver may still be required to submit to testing under Alabama’s “implied consent” law. Trucking companies may require their drivers to submit to testing that is not federally mandated as well.
Can I Sue Someone Personally After a Truck Accident?
Whether you can sue someone personally after a truck accident depends on the specific circumstances involved. However, even if you can sue someone personally, your best option will most likely be to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Trucking companies and most owner-operators have liability insurance that covers truck accidents. Non-commercial drivers are required to have auto insurance in Alabama as well. When you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will be able to help you decide what claim (or claims) to file and then take all necessary legal action on your behalf.
How Do You Protect Your Rights at the Scene of a Truck Accident?
There are several steps you can take to protect your rights at the scene of a truck accident. Most importantly, you should call 911 and ask that a police officer be dispatched to the scene. If you need emergency medical treatment, you should request an ambulance as well. If you are able to do so, you should also take lots of photos and videos with your phone, and you should write down the names of any witnesses who stop to help.
When speaking with the police or EMTs, be sure to stick to the facts—do not make any assumptions about what might or might not have happened. Once you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will be able to conduct a comprehensive investigation in order to determine if the truck driver, the trucking company, or some other party is legally responsible for the accident.
How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
It does not cost anything out-of-pocket to hire a truck accident lawyer to represent you. At Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, LLC, we handle all truck accident cases on a “contingency fee” basis, which means our clients only pay if we win. If we help you obtain a truck accident settlement or win your case in court, our legal fees will be calculated as a percentage of your award. We will discuss our contingency fees with you in detail during your free initial consultation.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash involving a commercial truck, there are many ways an experienced truck accident lawyer can help you. These include:
- Conducting an investigation and gathering the evidence needed to prove your legal rights.
- Determining whether you have a claim against the truck driver, the trucking company, or another party that is responsible for causing the accident.
- Dealing with any accusations that you or your loved one was partially at fault in the accident.
- Calculating the economic and non-economic damages you are entitled to recover.
- Dealing with the insurance companies on your behalf, negotiating for a fair settlement, and fighting for your rights in court if necessary.
How Should You Prepare for Your FREE Truck Accident Consultation?
To prepare for your free truck accident consultation, you should take detailed notes about the accident. Take 10-15 minutes to write down everything you can remember. If you have specific questions, write these down too so you don’t forget to ask them before you leave. If possible, you should collect your copy of the police report and any medical records or other documents you have as well.
