Federal Trucking Regulations in North Carolina

Skilled North Carolina Truck Attorney Assisting Victims of Tractor-Trailer Crashes

At Nagle & Associates, P.A., we are committed to guiding people hurt in truck accidents and other serious motor vehicle collisions through aggressive prosecution of all personal injury claims against all responsible drivers, employers and insurance carriers. Our legal practice focuses solely on traumatic injury cases arising from roadway collisions, providing victims statewide with legal representation against those whose careless or reckless behavior has harmed them. If you have been injured in an accident, call us today at (800) 411-1583.

North Carolina truck accident lawyer Carl Nagle, the founder of our firm, brings over 20 years of experience to his legal practice. Our advocacy is strengthened by Mr. Nagle’s history of working as a claims adjuster and insurance defense attorney. During his years working within the insurance industry, he handled truck accident claims as an insurance claims adjuster for a commercial insurance carrier, and he later defended truck drivers and trucking companies as their lawyer in Atlanta area courts. Due to his knowledge of how the other side handles commercial accident and large loss cases, he is able to anticipate and counter defense tactics designed to reduce compensation received by truck accident victims.

Thorough and aggressive representation has helped Mr. Nagle and the team at Nagle & Associates, P.A. secure hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured people in Raleigh, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, and many other cities throughout the state. As a result of dedicating his legal practice to personal injury law, Mr. Nagle has forged professional relationships with leaders in the field of serious motor vehicle accidents, including vocational rehabilitation experts, doctors, surgeons, neurologists, and accident reconstruction experts. In order to maximize compensation from all responsible parties, Mr. Nagle presents evidence to show the full impact of an accident on a victim’s current and future health.

Proving Liability for a Truck Accident and the Full Extent of Your Injuries

Collisions involving trucks or other commercial vehicles may result from a variety of sources, including equipment failure, driver error, or a failure to abide by state and federal laws regulating the trucking industry. By pursuing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a tractor-trailer or truck driver and his/her employers, a victim can collect generous tax-free compensation for their damages resulting from an accident.

Under North Carolina law, all truck drivers must exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. If a driver’s careless conduct causes an accident, they can be held liable for all resulting injuries and losses. Additionally, the trucking company that employed the driver can also be compelled to pay for the victim’s injuries. If a driver commits a negligent act while acting in the course and scope of employment, the company may be vicariously liable for any resulting harm. Moreover, direct liability may be established in some cases. For example, a trucking company that hires a driver who is unqualified for the job may be held accountable for injuries arising from an accident if this driver’s lack of qualifications was the cause. Requiring that drivers speed, drive while excessively fatigued, or otherwise evade the law in order to meet delivery deadlines may also subject the trucking company to liability.

In all legal claims following serious truck collisions, it is important for the plaintiff/victim to show they are not even minimally responsible for causing the accident. Contributory negligence under North Carolina law prevents accident victims from recovering damages if they contributed even slightly to causing their own injuries. If a judge or jury finds the plaintiff was 2% responsible for the accident, for example, and the trucker was 98% responsible, under North Carolina law the plaintiff would not recover any compensation. A situation in which this strict doctrine may play a role is if a driver was speeding beside a truck, and the truck driver took a needlessly wide turn and crashed into the car. If the plaintiff is found even slightly responsible for the accident due to their speeding, they will not recover monetary damages. Because tractor-trailer’s carry high-limit commercial insurance policies, and because truck accidents commonly cause severe injuries, insurance adjusters in these cases always look for reasons to place slight blame with the victim and deny all claims. However, an experienced truck accident lawyer can understand the evidence, retain collision reconstruction experts, and craft arguments regarding why a victim’s carelessness played no role in a crash.

Recovering compensation after an accident also requires showing the true extent of current injuries and proving the impact of those injuries into the future. A thorough medical consultation helps diagnose all of the conditions that may result from a truck crash. Often, there are long-term effects of injuries that may not be present immediately, and it is important to account for the consequences of a serious accident on a victim’s finances and quality of life. For example, injured individuals may recover compensation for their loss of earning capacity if they cannot return to their former employment. They may also potentially secure compensation for their emotional pain and suffering following the accident, as well as the costs of continuing medical care, should it be required.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in North Carolina to Protect Your Rights

The team at Nagle & Associates, P.A. is ready to pursue full compensation for truck accident victims and their families following any commercial truck collision in North Carolina. Truck accident attorney Carl Nagle approaches each case with attention to its specific nuances. Many of these cases settle outside the courtroom, but we never want to settle unless the victim is offered FULL payment for all losses, and Mr. Nagle stands ready to fight for your rights at all stages of the proceedings. At Nagle & Associates, P.A., we understand the importance of legal representation that leaves an injured person and their family in a financially sound position. For this reason, we offer more affordable fee arrangements than most firms, taking a smaller percentage of any settlement or verdict award. We have helped people throughout the state who need a motor vehicle collision lawyer, including in Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Wilmington, Greensboro, Charlotte, and other communities throughout Wake, Guilford, Forsyth, Durham, Catawba, Mecklenburg, and New Hanover Counties. Call us at (800) 411-1583 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.