Citronelle, AL Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents frequently have devastating outcomes, leaving people with grave injuries and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of property damage. Those who are involved in—or even just witness—these accidents are often left with chronic trauma as a result of their experience. Victims of truck accidents should not be left alone to grapple with the fallout on their own. They must be able to hold negligent parties accountable.

Have you been injured in a Citronelle truck accident? Don’t wait any longer to discuss your next steps with an attorney. Call Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell at 251-847-2237 to set up a consultation.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

The structure of tractor-trailers puts them at risk of a wide range of accident types. Knowing how these accidents happen can help you be a more informed driver and stay out of harm’s way:

• Rollover: Rollover accidents are very prevalent among tractor-trailers because of their top-heavy nature and high center of gravity. If a truck is carrying an unbalanced load, the risk is even greater.

• Jackknife: Jackknife collisions often occur when inexperienced truck drivers encounter an unexpected obstacle or traffic jam. They may swerve or overcorrect, causing the back end of the truck to begin to swing out. The driver loses control of the vehicle and is at the mercy of the much heavier trailer.

• Underride: Underride accidents are one of the most dangerous types of truck collisions. They happen when a smaller vehicle runs into the back end of a tractor-trailer, wedging themselves under the trailer and destroying the front end of the car. Fatalities are unfortunately quite common in underride collisions.

• Blind spot: These accidents happen when a smaller vehicle is in a truck’s left or right blind spot. While truck drivers have different tools to check their blind spot, they cannot see everything. If a car stays in a blind spot too long, there is a risk that they will be involved in a side-impact crash.

• Rear-end: Rear-end accidents, which are generally minor when they involve two passenger vehicles, can have devastating consequences when a tractor-trailer is involved. A tractor-trailer can crush a smaller vehicle in a rear-end crash, even while driving at very low speeds.

The Dangers of Truck Collisions

When you look at truck accident statistics in Alabama, it’s obvious that these collisions are a growing danger throughout the state. Accident numbers and fatalities have been on a steady uphill climb in recent years, jumping from 130 fatalities in 2020 to 162 in 2023. During the same timeframe, total collisions went from 8,579 to 10,452. Common causes of truck accidents in Alabama include improper lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, tailgating, defective equipment, unsafe backing, unsafe turning, and failure to heed signs or traffic signals.

A few factors contribute to the poor outcomes associated with truck accidents. First, tractor-trailers are dozens of times heavier than a passenger vehicle. In that situation, regardless of either vehicle’s speed, the smaller vehicle will bear the brunt of the damage. Second, tractor-trailers can carry a wide range of cargo.

If a truck is carrying hazardous chemicals at the time of a crash, there’s a serious risk of fires, explosions, and chemical burns. Finally, truck drivers are under enormous stress from their employers. There are more hauls and fewer drivers to complete them. Because of this, the drivers who remain are expected to drive faster, skip breaks, and make their deadlines—whatever it takes. This means that there’s a growing number of fatigued, overworked, and distracted truck drivers on the road.

Common Injuries

Drivers involved in Citronelle truck accidents report a variety of injuries. They include:

• Broken bones

• Lacerations

• Chemical burns

• Traumatic brain injuries

• Organ damage

• Internal bleeding

• Amputations

Even if you don’t notice any immediate injuries after an accident, it is crucial to seek medical care after a truck crash. The possibility of internal bleeding or organ damage is very real, and those injuries could be fatal if not immediately identified and treated. Even with immediate treatment, these injuries can still become fatal. Citronelle has numerous healthcare options, including Greater Mobile Urgent Care of Citronelle and Thomas Hospital.

The Challenges of a Truck Accident Claim

Even though your damages are likely far greater after a truck accident than they would be after a car crash, the process of seeking compensation is not much different. You’ll still have to get through insurance companies focused on maximizing profit at the expense of accident victims. On top of that, though, you’ll also be going up against a trucking company that likely has deep pockets and its own legal team.

Truck accidents also produce many types of evidence that require expert analysis, including ELD data and trucking logs. With the right legal help, this evidence can strengthen your claim. But on your own, you risk going against multimillion-dollar companies that don’t care about your well-being.

How Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell Can Help

At Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell, we’ve seen the firsthand effects of truck accidents many, many times. We know that victims just like you often struggle to be taken seriously by insurance companies. Those same insurance companies will downplay your injuries, try to shift blame and prevent you from getting a fair settlement. We’re here to help.

Thanks to our extensive experience in this area of law, we know what it takes to get taken seriously and we are committed to helping victims like you secure full and fair compensation. From the very beginning, we will learn more about your accident during your consultation and help you understand our next steps. By building a case against the liable party, we set ourselves up for successful negotiations. While most claims end at the settlement stage, we are prepared to take your case to court if necessary.

Contact Us Today to Start Your Claim

The sooner you reach out to Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell after a truck accident, the sooner we can begin putting together your case. Schedule your free consultation now by calling us at 251-847-2237 or getting in touch online.