OVER 50+ YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE SERVING RALEIGH & DURHAM
Protecting the Rights of Injured Clients
Truck Accidents
Truck Accident Attorney in Raleigh
Serious Truck Accident Representation Backed by More Than 50 Years of Combined Experience
Large truck accidents can leave people with disabling injuries, substantial medical bills, lost income, and damage that changes daily life. A collision involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or other commercial vehicle can also raise urgent questions about evidence, insurance coverage, and who may be responsible.
At Hyland, Padilla & Fowler, PLLC, we represent people seriously injured by negligence and families pursuing wrongful death claims after fatal truck crashes. We can review what happened, identify time-sensitive evidence, and explain the legal options available after a Raleigh truck accident.
A truck accident can involve a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, delivery truck, dump truck, construction vehicle, or farm equipment. Because commercial motor vehicles are larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, a collision can cause extensive property damage and severe injuries.
Truck crashes take many forms. The collision pattern can help establish what records, vehicle inspections, witness accounts, and reconstruction work may matter to a claim.
Common types of truck accidents include:
Jackknife Accidents: A trailer swings away from the cab, often after sudden braking or a loss of traction.
Rollovers: A truck tips onto its side or roof during a turn, after a load shift, or following a loss of control.
Rear-End Collisions: A truck strikes a vehicle ahead of it, potentially involving following distance, speed, distraction, or braking issues.
Underride Accidents: A smaller vehicle becomes trapped beneath the rear or side of a truck.
Blind-Spot Accidents: A collision occurs during a lane change or turn where a truck driver has limited visibility.
Wide-Turn Accidents: A truck swings into an adjacent lane or vehicle while making a turn.
Tire Blowouts: A tire failure causes a driver to lose control or creates a roadway hazard.
Mechanical Failures: Problems with brakes, steering, lights, or other critical components contribute to a crash.
Truck Accident Causes & Evidence
Truck crashes can result from driver conduct, trucking company practices, cargo loading, maintenance problems, vehicle defects, or roadway conditions. The available evidence, rather than assumptions about the crash, should guide the investigation.
Our team works alongside accident reconstructionists to investigate how a crash occurred. Accident reconstruction uses physical evidence, vehicle damage, scene documentation, and other available information to analyze the collision sequence. That work can help identify potentially responsible parties and preserve the facts needed to pursue a claim.
Evidence in a truck accident investigation may include:
Crash-scene photographs, video, and police reports
Vehicle damage and inspection records
Witness statements and available electronic data
Driver records and company documents
Maintenance and repair materials
Cargo-loading and cargo securement information
Liability may extend beyond the truck driver. Depending on the facts, a claim may involve a trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo-loading entity, vehicle or parts manufacturer, or another party whose negligence contributed to the collision. Our Raleigh truck accident lawyers examine the full record before determining who may be legally responsible.
Federal Trucking Regulations & Truck Crash Investigations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations apply to many commercial motor vehicles and can become important in a truck accident investigation. Whether a specific requirement applies depends on the driver, carrier, vehicle, cargo, route, and circumstances of the crash.
Hours of service are federal rules that regulate how long certain commercial drivers may drive or remain on duty and when they must rest. Electronic logging devices automatically record driving time and help track records of duty status for drivers required to keep those records. These records may be relevant when a claim involves a driver’s work schedule or carrier oversight.
Federal requirements also address vehicle inspections, maintenance, and cargo securement. Cargo securement refers to the methods used to keep a load from shifting, falling, or creating hazards during transport. Records concerning inspections, repairs, loading, and company practices can provide important context when evaluating trucking company liability.
How Truck Accident Claims Differ From Car Accident Claims
Truck accident claims can be more involved than a typical two-vehicle car crash. They may require review of multiple insurance policies, employment relationships, commercial records, maintenance history, cargo handling, and federal requirements.
Injuries may require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and time away from work. A claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses supported by the evidence and North Carolina personal injury law.
Insurance companies may dispute the cause of the crash, the extent of injury, or fault. We prepare cases for settlement discussions while remaining ready to take a case to trial when necessary. If you need an 18-wheeler accident attorney in Raleigh after a serious collision, we can explain the process and the information that may matter to your case.
Truck Accidents in Raleigh
A Raleigh truck accident can involve interstate travel, local delivery routes, construction areas, commercial loading locations, merging traffic, or a passenger vehicle sharing the road with a long-haul truck. The road name alone doesn’t determine liability. The facts of the collision determine which evidence and legal issues require attention.
We serve clients in Raleigh and surrounding North Carolina communities after serious truck crashes. Our approach starts with the specific circumstances of the collision, the injuries involved, and the parties whose actions or decisions may have contributed to the harm.
Safety Considerations Around Commercial Trucks
Passenger-vehicle drivers can reduce risk by:
Avoiding prolonged travel in a truck’s blind spots
Signaling before changing lanes
Allowing additional following distance
Trucks need more room to stop and make wider turns than many passenger vehicles.
Truck operators and carriers must follow applicable safety requirements and maintain their vehicles and cargo for safe operation. Weather, traffic, mechanical condition, load handling, and driver decisions can all be relevant when a collision occurs.
Our Approach to Truck Accident Representation
We have helped injured people since 1999. Our attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience and have handled more than 7,000 cases. We intentionally limit our caseload so we can provide focused attention to the people and families we represent.
After a serious truck crash, we work directly with our clients and provide step-by-step guidance through the claim. We keep clients updated as the case progresses, develop case strategies collaboratively, and can assist clients in English and Spanish. Our team is available 24/7.
We have recovered more than $40 million in compensation for clients. We don’t collect legal fees unless we recover compensation for a client. Our attorneys pursue settlements that account for the client’s needs and prepare for litigation when the circumstances call for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers provide general information about truck accident claims in North Carolina. A review of the specific facts can clarify how the law may apply to your situation.
What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?
Seek medical care and contact emergency services when necessary. If it’s safe, document the scene, collect available contact information, and preserve photographs or other records. Avoid making premature statements about fault. A prompt legal review can help identify evidence and claim requirements that may need attention.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim?
North Carolina generally allows three years from the date of a truck accident to file a personal injury action under G.S. 1-52. Different deadlines and exceptions can apply, including to wrongful death claims and claims involving particular parties. Speak with an attorney promptly so your potential deadline can be evaluated.
How Does Contributory Negligence Affect My Claim?
Contributory negligence is a North Carolina rule that can bar recovery if a claimant’s own negligence is established as contributing to the injury. Its application depends on the facts and applicable law. Allegations of fault should be evaluated carefully alongside the evidence from the crash.
Speak With a Raleigh Truck Accident Lawyer
We represent people injured in significant truck accidents involving alleged driver impairment, hours-of-service issues, trucking company negligence, vehicle defects, hazardous-material incidents, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, and other serious events. An early conversation can help you understand the next steps and the information that should be preserved.
If you need an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Raleigh after a devastating crash, a free consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your situation and legal options.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Raleigh, call our Raleigh truck accident attorneys at (919) 891-8361 or contact us online today.
Our Results
Experienced Legal Help from Hyland, Padilla & Fowler Since 1999
Over 7000 Cases Handled
We have represented thousands of personal injury clients since 1999.
“I would strongly recommend this team because they will absolutely work in your best interest.”
“I came to Hyland, Padilla & Fowler, PLLC after an automobile accident. Mr. Padilla worked very hard on my case. His primary concern is for the well being of his clients. He was caring, professional, honest and patient. His staff was always helpful and”
Toni B.
“Very happy with the results.”
“Very happy and great full with the results. Thank you for helping the Hispanic community very happy with the results blessings. Andrea and Stefani did A great job.”
Jazmin A.
“Call him today with your legal needs. I DID!”
“Mr Padilla is extremely helpful with your personal injury. His staff is great. I wouldn't go anywhere else. I have worked with Mr Padilla several times over the years. He is a wonderful caring attorney. He will go all out to make his client happy.”
Carolyn H.
“Great Answering Questions.”
“Andrea and her assistant Stephanie help me.”
Former Client
“Mr. Hyland is very responsive, easy to talk to and always had my best interest in mind.”
“Mr. Hyland is very responsive, easy to talk to and always had my best interest in mind. Even through COVID-19, he remained responsive and cool. He’s a pretty good listener and always upfront.”
Amanda J.
“Hello I would like to say that I’ve Been a client of Andrea Fowler for Years, and I can truly say she is very Professional and she is someone That will help you over many hurdles in life.”
“Hello I would like to say that I’ve Been a client of Andrea Fowler for Years, and I can truly say she is very Professional and she is someone That will help you over many hurdles in life.”
Andrea M.
“I have been a client of Hyland and Padilla for over 13 years.”
“I have been a client of Hyland and Padilla for over 13 years. I am very pleased with their services, their personal attention, and their friendly support. It is always a pleasure to speak with them, no matter how much time has passed.”
Katherine F.
“Hyland + Padilla were very transparent in their communications, and they were able to help me figure out how best to move forward with my situation.”
“Hyland + Padilla were very transparent in their communications, and they were able to help me figure out how best to move forward with my situation.”
