Loading Dock Truck Accident Lawyers in Charlotte

With a central location on the East Coast, North Carolina is home to many loading docks frequently used by trucking companies. Unfortunately, serious truck accidents can occur at loading dock locations. Injury victims can be hurt by trucks that are used to move cargo or equipment onto and off of loading docks, resulting in serious physical harm and devastating emotional consequences.

If you have been injured in a loading dock accident, you may be entitled to compensation. If you are a worker who became injured on the job, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation payments. Alternatively, you may wish to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the person or company whose negligence caused your injuries. Navigating the claims process is not easy, and an experienced lawyer can carefully review your case and advise you of your legal options. The skilled personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, have extensive experience pursuing compensation on behalf of clients. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Many North Carolina loading dock accidents occur when workers are loading or unloading commercial trucks. Workers and other people working near these massive trucks are always at risk of serious injuries. It only takes one mistake for someone to become catastrophically injured in a loading dock accident, which can lead to medical expenses, missed work, lost wages, or even death. By pursuing a legal claim against the at-fault parties, which could include the truck driver, employers, and potentially the warehouse owner, victims may recover their losses associated with the truck accident.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident near a loading dock in North Carolina, you have several options for recovering compensation. After investigating your claim, one of our skilled lawyers will determine who was at fault for the accident. There can be one or more people at fault in loading dock accidents. The employees loading the trucks may have made a mistake, or one of the pieces of large machinery may have been poorly maintained, causing it to malfunction.

Many legal claims involving loading dock accidents use the legal theory of negligence. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant's actions constitute carelessness or recklessness. In other words, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant's actions or inaction did not meet the standard of care required by the truck driver, trucking company, dock worker, etc. Everyone involved in loading a semi-truck has a duty to act reasonably under the circumstances.

For example, suppose a truck driver failed to secure the load, which then spilled out of the vehicle when it pulled up to the loading dock. If this failure led to another person's injuries, the injured victim could claim that the truck driver’s conduct is an example of negligence. When a loading dock accident results in fatalities, a personal representative of the deceased has a right to file a wrongful death claim. This type of lawsuit seeks monetary compensation after a loved one's death. The burden is on the representative or family member of the deceased to present evidence of the defendant’s negligent acts.

In personal injury accidents involving loading docks, the victim will need to calculate all of their existing and potential future damages. In North Carolina, personal injury victims are entitled to economic and non-economic damages. They can recover compensation for the immediately apparent cost, such as their medical expenses, hospital bills, and missed wages from work. They can also recover compensation for future medical needs. When applicable, plaintiffs can attempt to recover necessary accommodations for their homes, such as ramps or home healthcare devices.

Medical professionals can help support claims of estimated expenses. You can also use vocational experts to analyze and provide testimony as to the impact of your injuries on your ability to return to your previous job or seek future employment in the future. Victims are entitled to compensation for their emotional damages, as well, such as pain, suffering, disfigurement, and loss of consortium.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our skilled personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of successfully obtaining and compensating clients. You only have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you have been injured in a loading dock accident, we can help. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.