Don’t Get Crushed! Why Car & Truck Accidents Are Different
You might have been looking across several Birmingham truck accident attorneys from different websites. But what exactly do you need? Is it a Birmingham car crash lawyer? Or a truck accident attorney? The answer to this question necessarily leads us to differentiate between a car accident and a truck accident.
We all bump into things sometimes, but some accidents are much worse than others. Often, these accidents happen because the driver wasn’t careful, or because the company didn’t take care of their vehicles properly. Since crashes can cause a lot of damage, it’s important to know your rights after one, especially if the driver was at fault.
Short Summary
- Car accidents vs. truck accidents: Both involve different vehicles and complexities.
- Car accident damages: Recoverable damages include medical bills, lost wages, car repairs, pain & suffering.
- Car accident fault: Alabama uses a contributory negligence rule, so having a lawyer is crucial to prove the other driver’s 100% fault.
- Truck accident damages: Recoverable damages include medical care, car repairs, pain & suffering, mental health treatment, and wrongful death compensation.
- Truck accident liability: Trucking companies can be liable for driver mistakes if the driver was an employee, the company controlled the driver, and the accident happened during work hours.
- Evidence in truck accidents: Evidence includes driver logs, truck inspection reports, driver records, cargo records, drug & alcohol tests, and cell phone records.
In this article, we will find out more about the difference between a car accident and a truck accident.
What is a Car Accident?
Car crashes can happen between regular cars, like sedans, SUVs, and minivans. These crashes usually involve everyday vehicles that seat just a few people. They can happen on streets, highways, and at crossroads, with one or more cars involved.
What Damages Could You Receive from a Car Accident Claim in Birmingham?
Damages are basically the money you might get if you win your case. There are two main types:
- Money losses: This covers things you can add up easily, like medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and car repairs.
- Non-money losses: This is for things that are harder to put a price on, like pain and suffering, or if your injuries make it hard to enjoy life the way you used to.
If the other driver acted super reckless or crazy, the judge might also award punitive damages. This is basically extra money to punish bad behavior, like driving drunk or road rage.
How Fault is Deciphered in an Alabama Car Crash?
Car accidents in Alabama can be tricky. Unlike some states, Alabama blames the driver who caused the wreck for paying for damages. Everyone in Alabama needs car insurance, but to get money for your injuries, you have to prove the other driver was at fault. This means showing a judge or jury clear proof, like witness statements, that the other driver caused your accident and bills.
Alabama is one of the few states that completely cuts you off from getting money if you’re even a tiny bit at fault, even 1%. That’s why a Birmingham car crash lawyer is important. They can help gather evidence like photos and even hire experts to figure out exactly how the crash happened. This can help prove the other driver was 100% to blame and get you the money you deserve.
Establishing Liability in a Birmingham Car Crash?
If you get hurt in a car crash, your Birmingham car crash lawyer will look at all the details to prove the other driver should pay. Here’s what they’ll try to show:
- Duty of Care: Basically, all drivers have a responsibility to be careful and watch out for others on the road.
- Breach of Duty: This means the other driver wasn’t careful and broke that responsibility, like texting while driving.
- Caused the Crash: Because of the other driver’s carelessness, they caused the wreck and your injuries.
- Damages: The crash cost you money, like medical bills and lost wages, and your lawyer will help you prove it.
Can I Expect Something from Insurance Negotiations?
Insurance companies might try to give you less money than you deserve for your accident. They might call you with an offer before you talk to a car crash lawyer. Don’t take it! A lawyer can check the offer and see if it covers everything, like future medical bills.
If the offer isn’t enough, your lawyer can try to bargain for more money. If the insurance company says no, they might have to go to court.
What is a Truck Accident?
Big rig crashes can happen when large trucks, like tractor-trailers, semis, and delivery trucks, get into accidents. These trucks are used for business and haul cargo over long distances. Because they’re so big and heavy, truck crashes can be really bad, even just a small bump.
What Damages Could You Receive from a Truck Accident Claim in Birmingham?
Truck crashes can leave you hurt and with big bills. Here’s what our team can help you get money for:
- Medical Care: This covers everything from the ambulance ride to surgery, medicine, and rehab, even if you need care for life.
- Car Repairs or Replacement: If the truck messed up your car, we’ll fight to get it fixed or replaced entirely.
- Pain and Suffering: This includes physical pain, bad memories, anxiety, and even trouble sleeping because of the crash. If your injuries make it hard to do things you used to, that counts too.
- Mental Health Treatment: Maybe you need therapy or medication to cope with the accident. We’ll fight to get coverage for that too.
- Loss of Loved One: If you tragically lose someone in a truck wreck, we’ll help get money for funeral costs, lost financial support, and other losses.
How Liabilities Apply in a Truck Accident Case?
Bosses can be on the hook for their employee’s mistakes, sometimes. This applies to truck accidents too. If a truck driver gets into a wreck while they’re working, the trucking company might have to pay for the damages, even though they weren’t driving at the time.
Establishing Company’s Liability in a Birmingham Truck Crash?
Trucking companies can be responsible for truck driver accidents if:
- The driver worked for the company: This means they were a regular employee, not just someone who rented a truck.
- The company controlled the driver: Basically, the company told the driver what to do and where to go.
- The driver was on the job: The accident happened while the driver was working, not on their own time.
What Pieces of Evidence Should I gather?
Trucking companies have lots of rules to follow and keep paperwork on everything. After a truck crash, your lawyer will look at these papers to see if the company broke any rules. Here are some examples:
- Driver’s work logs: These show how long the driver worked and if they took breaks as required by law.
- Truck inspection reports: These show if the truck was checked for problems before the trip.
- Driver’s driving record: This shows if the driver has gotten tickets or been in wrecks before.
- Cargo records: These show what the truck was hauling and if it was handled safely.
- Drug and alcohol tests: These check if the driver was under the influence.
- Cell phone records: These show if the driver was talking or texting on the phone.
Fight For Your Rights and Seek Compensation!
If you get involved in a car or truck accident, you should not hesitate to file for a claim. When navigating the aftermath of a vehicular incident, whether it’s a car crash or a truck accident, having legal support is paramount.
Getting in a wreck is a pain. An experienced Birmingham car crash lawyer can fight for you and get you the money you deserve. Truck accidents are even trickier because of all the trucking rules. That’s why you need Birmingham truck accident attorneys with wide knowledge. They can investigate the crash and fight to hold the right people accountable.
At Petro Accident and Injury Attorneys, our experienced Alabama personal injury attorneys will make the recovery process easier for you. We will help you fight for the compensation that is rightfully yours.
Need a lawyer for an accident? We can help! We fight to get you the money you deserve after car crashes, truck wrecks, dog bites, injuries to kids, nursing home problems, and more. Let’s team up today!
