Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Durham, North Carolina
The firms in this guide
1. Riddle & Riddle Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, car accidents, motorcycle accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end truck collisions, underride accidents, cargo spill accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, hit and run accidents, drunk driving truck accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver log analysis, vehicle maintenance record investigation, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Established in 1985. Over 160 years of collective legal experience among attorneys. Have handled thousands of car accident cases including hundreds of truck accident cases. Obtained $9.45 million verdict in tractor-trailer accident wrongful death case involving deaths of four family members. Regularly achieve four, five, six and seven-figure settlements and judgments.
Location: Durham, NC (serves Durham and Triangle area)
Contact: (919) 728-1770 | 1-800-525-7111 | https://justicecounts.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
2. Lanier Law Group, P.A.
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents, improper cargo loading accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence investigation, driver negligence claims, federal trucking regulations analysis, driver log review, maintenance record investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wages, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Representing clients since 1997. Attorneys have successfully represented thousands of clients in personal injury matters. Obtain settlements and verdicts including a head-on collision with commercial tractor-trailer. Maintain offices in Durham, Asheville, Greenville, Burlington, and Fayetteville.
Location: 1816 Front St., Suite 320, Durham, NC 27705
Contact: (919) 335-7553 | https://www.lanierlawgroup.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis, weekend appointments available
3. Martin & Jones, PLLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, 18-wheeler accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, personal injury litigation
Case Types Handled: Drowsy driving accidents, fatigued driver accidents, improperly maintained truck accidents, negligent hiring accidents, inadequate supervision accidents, background check failure accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence investigation, federal regulations compliance analysis, driver qualification review, maintenance record investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Founded in 1982. Attorneys have decades of experience helping injured people in the Durham area and across North Carolina. Handle complex truck accident litigation involving multiple liable parties including trucking companies, cargo loaders, and maintenance providers.
Location: Durham, NC
Contact: https://www.martinandjones.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
4. Kreger Brodish LLP
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial truck crashes, tractor-trailer collisions, catastrophic injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents, overloaded truck accidents
Legal Services: Independent accident investigation, evidence collection, liable party identification, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations analysis, trucking company record review, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense documentation, future care cost calculation, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages
Background: Over a decade of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases. Handle truck accident cases throughout Durham, North Carolina. Work against trucking companies and insurance companies to recover compensation for victims.
Location: Durham, NC
Contact: https://www.kregerbrodish.com
Consultation: Free initial case review
5. Naomi Ellis Law
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler crashes, personal injury, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Distracted driving accidents, driver fatigue accidents, speeding accidents, traffic violation accidents, mechanical failure accidents, poor truck maintenance accidents, soft shoulder accidents
Legal Services: In-depth accident investigation, driver log analysis, vehicle maintenance record review, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, property damage claims
Background: Over 9 years of experience serving Durham and eastern North Carolina region. Attorneys work directly with clients from start to finish without delegation to case managers. Focus on client-centric approach with regular communication throughout case.
Location: Durham, NC (serves Durham and eastern North Carolina)
Contact: https://www.ellislawnc.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis (no win, no fee)
Truck Maintenance, Hazardous Loads and Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Durham Truck Crash Claims
A Durham truck crash can involve a poorly maintained truck, a hazardous load or an impaired driver. Federal rules set the carrier’s maintenance, coverage and alcohol duties, and North Carolina law sets what the injured driver’s own uninsured motorist coverage must include and how the deadline treats injured minors.
Maintenance and Inspection
Under 49 CFR 396.3, every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair and maintain each vehicle subject to its control, keep maintenance records for 1 year where the vehicle is housed or maintained, and keep them for 6 months after the vehicle leaves its control. Under 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection within the preceding 12 months.
Hazardous Loads and Alcohol
Under 49 CFR 387.9, listed oil and hazardous materials not covered by the higher rows require $1,000,000 in public liability coverage, and bulk hazardous substances and listed explosive, poison and radioactive categories require $5,000,000. Under 382.201, a driver subject to the federal testing rules may not report for or remain on safety-sensitive duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Under North Carolina General Statutes 20-279.21(b)(3), a bodily injury liability policy on a vehicle registered or principally garaged in North Carolina must include uninsured motorist coverage, with bodily injury limits equal to the policy’s highest bodily injury liability limits up to $1,000,000; the named insured may buy greater or lesser limits that are not below the required bodily injury limits.
Injured Minors
Under General Statutes 1-17(a), a person who is under 18, insane or incompetent when the cause of action accrues may bring the action within the time limited after the disability is removed.
Durham Truck Accident Questions
What if the carrier says I was partly at fault?
The carrier must prove it. Under General Statutes 1-139, the party asserting contributory negligence has the burden of proof. If the carrier does prove it, the claim can fail entirely: in Smith v. Fiber Controls Corp. (1980), the Supreme Court of North Carolina, relying on a torts treatise for the rule that contributory negligence bars recovery, let a jury verdict for the defendant stand.
How long do I have to sue the carrier?
Three years for personal injury under General Statutes 1-52(5), and two years from the death for wrongful death under 1-53(4). If a city truck was involved, the city’s immunity is waived under 160A-485(a) only to the extent of its liability insurance or risk pool coverage.
Who must be notified after a truck crash inside Durham?
The police department of the City of Durham. Under General Statutes 20-166.1(a), the driver in a reportable accident must immediately notify the police department of the city or town where it occurred.