Head-on Truck Accidents: Charlotte Personal Injury Lawyer

In July of 2021, a North Carolina man was killed in a head-on truck accident. The pickup truck driver crossed the center line and collided with a large tractor trailer. Even though the tractor-trailer driver tried to avoid colliding with the truck, he only had seconds to react and could not avoid the collision. As this story illustrates, it only takes seconds for a fatal head-on truck accident to occur. The occupants of a passenger vehicle involved in a head-on collision with a tractor trailer truck typically do not survive.

Head-on collisions are always dangerous, but they are particularly dangerous when large heavy commercial vehicles are involved. A head-on collision occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the front of another vehicle. Head-on collisions are among the most serious and deadly types of vehicle crashes. They typically result in permanent, catastrophic injuries or even death due to the force involved when two heavy objects collide with each other moving in opposing directions.

Due to the severity of head-on collisions, it is crucial that you take action to fully protect and enforce your legal rights. Proving the responsible party’s negligence often requires a thorough investigation into the causes of the truck accident. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, We have the resources and experience needed to conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of who caused your accident. If necessary, we will use engineers and accident reconstruction experts to strengthen your case and prove the defendant's liability. These experts can frequently help us identify any other parties who are defendants liable for your injuries and help direct the court to assign who should pay you compensation.

North Carolina follows a contributory negligence law. This law means that when a victim of a head-on truck accident is partially responsible for the accident, they are denied recovering any amount of compensation. Most states use comparative negligence, which is a rule that allows victims to recover some damages still even if they are partially at fault for the accident. Working with an attorney is important because you will need to show that you are not at fault for the head-on truck collision. You may be able to use some other legal arguments in your case such as the last clear chance doctrine. If you can show the defendant had the last clear chance to avoid the collision but did not take it, you may be able to still recover compensation for your injuries.

Statutes of limitations are rules that put a time limit on filing a personal injury lawsuit. The amount of time a victim has to bring a lawsuit depends on the type of case involved. For example, wrongful-death lawsuits in which the victim died in the accident may have a different time limit than a case involving a personal injury. A personal injury lawsuit after a head-on truck collision needs to be submitted to the court within three years of the date of the truck accident. If the victim died in the truck accident, the surviving family members must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the accident.

Thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit can seem overwhelming, especially if you have been seriously injured in a truck accident or lost your loved one in an accident. However, these types of accident cases require a significant amount of time and work. The sooner you discuss your case with a lawyer, the sooner your lawyer can begin investigating the case.

Successful plaintiffs may be entitled to several different types of damages in personal injury lawsuits. They may recover economic damages for their medical costs, missed wages, and other quantifiable expenses related to their injuries. They may also recover non-economic damages for the pain and suffering they have endured from their injuries, including suffering, scarring, lost quality of life, inconvenience, and emotional distress.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our personal injury lawyers understand the severe impact a motor vehicle collision can have on victims and their family members. Our lawyers have extensive experience working personal injury cases and understand insurance companies’ tactics to avoid paying compensation to victims. We have successfully obtained significant compensation for motor vehicle accident victims in Charlotte and the surrounding area. Contact us today at 704-370-2828 to schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about our services.