Hattiesburg Truck Accident
Personal Injury Attorneys Representing Truck Crash Victims in Southern Mississippi
Each and every day, Mississippians share the road with trucks of all types – 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers, to name a few. Some of these trucks belong to Mississippi companies, while others are passing through from other states. Regardless of where they are coming and going, one thing remains true – drivers must be sure to exercise caution at all times, as a truck accident involving an 80,000 big rig can cause serious injuries. If you have been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, let our Hattiesburg truck accident lawyers fight for your rights and get to work for you.
Truck Accidents in the Hattiesburg Area
In the greater Hattiesburg, Mississippi area, trucking accidents can occur nearly anywhere. However, some of the more dangerous intersections include U.S. 98 and Westover Road and U.S. 49 and Hardy Street. A truck accident can be caused by any of the following:
- Driver error, such as speeding or running a stop sign
- Texting while driving
- Truck driver fatigue
- Drugs and alcohol intoxication
- Improper driver training
- Insufficient stopping distance
- Driving in excess of federal hours of service rules
What You May Be Entitled to Following an Accident with a Big Rig Truck
Due to the size and weight of big commercial trucks, many victims suffer physical injuries that require medical treatment. Some must be transported by ambulance from the scene of the wreck to a local emergency room such as Forrest General Hospital, located at 6051 U.S. Highway 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-6389. To treat motor vehicle accident-related injuries, the emergency room physician may recommend follow up treatment with the patient’s primary care physician or specialist, such as an orthopedic doctor. Follow up treatment, which may entail physical therapy or surgery, can cause an innocent victim to quickly accumulate medical bills and miss work.
To recover medical bills, lost wages, and more subjective losses like pain and suffering, proving negligence is typically required. A truck accident attorney in Hattiesburg can help you with bringing this type of claim. Negligence is when a party’s conduct falls below a reasonable standard of care given the circumstances. In the context of a trucking accident, negligence can be proven against the truck driver or employer. A driver may ace negligently by violating a driving law or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulation, such as those regulating hours of service.
A trucking company can be held vicariously liable for the negligence of a driver committed within the course and scope of employment. For example, if a delivery truck driver rear-ended you on West Pine Street while in route to drop off an order to a customer, it is likely that the delivery company will be responsible for your damages since the driver was on the clock. A trucking company can also be held liable for its own acts of negligence, such as negligent hiring or training. Federal trucking regulations impose specific rules on carriers to conduct sufficient background checks, ensure drivers meet proper licensing standards, and adequately train employees.
Our lawyers can help Hattiesburg truck accident victims by investigating all potential avenues of recovery. We will seek to obtain the police report as soon as possible and contact any known witnesses. It may be necessary to retain an accident reconstruction expert if the trucking company tries to deny responsibility. By conducting a thorough investigation, our goal is to help clients obtain full compensation for their losses and injuries.
Contact Us Now for a Free Consultation with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Hattiesburg
Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz has fought for the rights of people injured in trucking accidents for over 30 years. To speak with one of our Mississippi injury lawyers today, complete our online form or call us toll-free at 800-529-4004. We have the experience and resources to handle 18-wheeler accident cases from start to finish, all while providing individual and compassionate representation. Our legal team can assist truck and auto accident victims throughout the greater Hattiesburg area, including Beaumont, Lumberton, Petal, Purvis, and Richton. If you need dedicated legal representation for a motor vehicle accident, the Hattiesburg truck accident attorneys at NST are the way to go.