Northport Truck Accident Lawyers
Holding truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for injuries and deaths for 45 years
Trucks transport many of the consumer and commercial products Northport needs and produces. These deliveries come with a price. Many truck drivers and trucking companies prioritize their profits over your safety. At Prince Glover Hayes, we hold negligent drivers and businesses accountable for the injuries and deaths they cause.
Our Tuscaloosa County truck accident lawyers demand compensation for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage from the responsible parties. We understand the unique challenges involved in handling truck accident claims. Call us today to speak with our accomplished lawyers.
We represent anyone who suffers injuries in a truck accident. We also represent families when a truck accident is fatal. Our Northport truck accident lawyers handle accidents on interstates, federal highways, state routes, and local roads, including:
- Highway This road is a main north–south artery connecting Northport to Tuscaloosa via the Hugh R. Thomas Bridge, a six-lane girder span over the Black Warrior River
- S. Route 82. This road is an east–west thoroughfare skirting Northport’s northern edge, providing access to Tuscaloosa and neighboring towns.
- Highway This road runs through Northport, intersecting US 43 near downtown
Interstate 359. This road joins SR 69 briefly in Tuscaloosa before splitting off north.
Other roads as well, including Highway 171, Rose Boulevard, Mitt Lary Road.
How can we help
- Why clients choose Prince Glover Hayes when truck accidents happen
- How dangerous are truck accidents in Alabama?
- What rules govern truck operation in Northport, AL?
- What types of truck accidents do you handle in Northport, AL?
- Why do truck accidents happen in Northport, AL?
- Who do your Northport truck accident lawyers hold accountable for truck accidents?
- What’s the value of my truck accident claim?
- What is the statute of limitations for a truck accident claim in Alabama?
- Do you have a Northport truck accident attorney near me?
Why clients choose Prince Glover Hayes when truck accidents happen
Our Northport truck accident lawyers have 45 years of experience and working relationships with investigators, truck industry professionals, traffic reconstruction experts, and truck part experts. We handle truck accidents involving tractor-trailers, semis, 18-wheelers, box trucks, delivery trucks, pickup trucks, and all other types of trucks.
Our lawyers are respected by former clients, insurance companies, and the legal community for our impressive record of results, including the following:
- A $3.5 million verdict for the family of a man killed by a truck driver
- $2.75 million for victims of a crash with an overloaded log truck
- $1.5 million in a case involving negligent hiring by a trucking company
- $1.5 million in a truck accident death case
At Prince Glover Hayes, we understand the unique challenges involved in handling truck accident litigation. These challenges include understanding the various federal and state trucking regulations, filing claims against multiple defendants, and anticipating the arguments defense lawyers are likely to assert.
How dangerous are truck accidents in Alabama?
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), in 2021, there were 148 fatalities and 2,577 injuries involving “heavy” trucks. Heavy trucks include 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, tow trucks, and work trucks. They don’t include SUVs or light trucks. These truck accidents happened on the following roads:
- 31.7%
- City roads. 24.3%
- State routes. 19.9%
- US routes. 12.4%
- County roads. 9.2%
- Other roads. 2.5%
Cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are simply no match for the size, weight, and dimensions of trucks. When Northport truck accidents happen, the non-truck occupants will usually absorb the bulk of the impact, causing deaths, catastrophic injuries, and injuries that can be permanent or require long-term care
What rules govern truck operation in Northport, AL?
At Prince Glover Hayes, we use the various federal and state laws to help show that a truck driver and truck companies were negligent. Some of the laws/rules that govern truck driving include the following:
- Hours of Service rules. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates how long drivers can operate their trucks before they need to rest. The FMCSA requires that truck drivers keep electronic driving logs to record their hours of operation.
- Loading and unloading laws. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates the proper loading and securement of cargo by the type of cargo and other factors.
- Weight limits. Generally, the FMCSA requires that commercial trucks have a gross vehicle weight limit of 80,000 pounds or less. Alabama also has its own weight limit requirements.
- Other rules and regulations. Some of the other rules violations that may indicate a truck driver or company was negligent include failure to conduct regular inspections before each trip (and to conduct timely and safe repairs), the failure to have a valid commercial driver’s license, and the failure to comply with substance testing as a part of their licensing requirements.
What types of truck accidents do you handle in Northport, AL?
Our Northport truck accident lawyers handle all types of truck accidents, including the following:
- Jackknife accidents
- Truck rollovers
- Wide turn accidents
- Underride accidents
- Accidents due to blind spots
- Overpass accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Broadsides/T-bone accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Multiple vehicle accidents
Types of injuries
We handle all types of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
- Burn injuries
- Fractures/broken bones
- Organ damage
- Nerve, tissue, and muscle damage
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Hearing or vision loss
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Death
Why do truck accidents happen in Northport, AL?
Some of the leading causes of truck accidents nationally and in Alabama are:
- Driving while fatigued. Trucking companies and drivers often prioritize making more deliveries over longer distances (to earn more money) instead of prioritizing your safety.
- Driver distraction. Many drivers look at their navigation system/GPS instead of preparing their trip in advance or using audio systems instead of visual systems. Driver distraction also includes texting, using a mobile phone that isn’t hands-free, eating, and drinking while driving.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Impaired drivers cannot anticipate or respond to emergencies in a timely manner. Impaired driving can also create emergencies that other drivers cannot avoid.
- Cargo that is not properly loaded or secured. Cargo that moves or shifts during travel can cause a truck driver to lose control of their truck. Cargo that spills onto the highway can create havoc for every vehicle and person near the truck.
- Blind spot accidents. Most trucks have poor or no sight lines behind or to the sides of their trucks. Drivers should use extra caution and the latest camera technology when changing lanes or doing anything that requires seeing other vehicles on the road.
- Defective truck parts. Defective tires, brakes, hydraulic systems, and other parts of a truck can cause a deadly or serious Northport truck accident.
According to the AL DOT report (above), the most common causes of truck accidents in 2021 were as follows:
- Improper lane change or use. 15.6%
- Failing to yield the right of way. 9.9%
- Unseen objects, people, or vehicles. 7.8%
- 7.2%
- Misjudged stopping distance. 4.3%
- Defective equipment. 4.2%
- Improper backing 4.0%
- Other causes include improper turns, crossing a meridian or center line, failing to heed signals, driving too fast for conditions, driver fatigue, improper passing, driving under the influence, and other causes.
Who do your Northport truck accident lawyers hold accountable for truck accidents?
Truck accident claims often involve multiple defendants. Our Northport truck accident lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible. The defendants may include:
- The driver of the truck
- The truck driver’s employer
- The owner of the truck, if different than the driver or the employer
- The companies involved in the shipment, including the loading companies
- Inspection, maintenance, and repair companies
- Truck manufacturers
- Sellers of alcohol to visibly intoxicated drivers
- The Alabama Department of Transportation or other state agencies/entities
What’s the value of my truck accident claim?
At Prince Glover Hayes, we focus on all aspects of your claim from the smallest detail to the largest expense. We work with your doctors to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries, including the long-term consequences and likely complications. Our Northport truck accident lawyers demand compensation for all your current and future:
- Medical bills of every type, for as long as you need medical care
- Lost income and benefits, including permanent disability compensation
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of life’s pleasures and loss of consortium
- Loss of bodily function
- Scarring and disfigurement
We also file wrongful death claims when a loved one dies due to another party’s negligence or misconduct. In Alabama, wrongful death damages are punitive and aim to punish and deter wrongdoing.
What is the statute of limitations for a truck accident claim in Alabama?
Generally, you must file your personal injury or wrongful death claim within two years from the date of the accident. Please do not wait. The sooner we can investigate your accident and review your medical care, the better we can handle your claim.
Do you have a Northport truck accident attorney near me?
Yes. You can meet with the attorneys at Prince Glover Hayes at our office at 2311 University Boulevard, Suite A, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. If your injuries prevent you from visiting our office, we can schedule a call or video consultation, or meet in another location to discuss your claim.
We’re available to answer your questions and guide you through the claims process.
Get help from our Northport truck accident lawyers now
We understand how anxious you are. Your bills are mounting, you’re in pain, and you may not be able to work. At Prince Glover Hayes, we’ve helped many truck accident victims like you and families of deceased truck accident victims obtain strong recoveries. We represent clients throughout Alabama, including Northport. Tuscaloosa, Lake View, Moundville, Holt, and beyond. Call or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.