Truck Accident Lawyer in Pascagoula
Crashes involving large commercial vehicles are some of the deadliest types of accidents that occur on the Pascagoula area roadways. When a semi-truck that weighs in excess of 70,000 pounds (fully loaded) collides with a regular passenger vehicle, occupants of the other vehicle are usually the ones that get the worst of it.
In fact, according to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles account for 67% of fatalities from truck accidents, while just 16% of those killed are occupants of the commercial truck. The other 15% are motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
If you or someone close to you got injured or killed in a truck accident in or around Pascagoula, you may have a right to damages. Unfortunately, it is not easy to recover full and fair compensation from insurance companies whose goal is to minimize the amount of compensation they have to pay. Before you accept any type of settlement from an insurance company, contact the Gardner Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation. We will meet with you to thoroughly analyze your case and advise you of your legal rights and options.
The Gardner Law Firm has been representing victims of truck accidents in Pascagoula and the surrounding Mississippi communities for more than 40 years. We have extensive experience with these types of cases, and we work closely with our clients to explore every potential legal avenue toward recovering maximum compensation.
Trucking accident cases can be some of the most complicated personal injury claims. The industry is heavily regulated, and there are typically several different parties that could share some of the blame for the accident. A thorough investigation is required to identify any and all relevant factors, get to the bottom of what happened and ensure that all those responsible are held fully accountable.
Who is Responsible for Pascagoula, MS Truck Accidents?
As we touched on previously, there are multiple parties that could contribute to a trucking accident, including:
- The truck driver.
- The company that employs the driver.
- The cargo/shipping company that loaded the truck.
- The owner or lessor of the truck.
- The party that is in charge of vehicle maintenance.
- The entity that is in charge of maintaining the roadways.
- The manufacturer, supplier, or distributor of a dangerous or faulty vehicle part.
There are a number of factors that can play a role in a truck accident. Drivers are under a lot of pressure these days to deliver large loads of cargo within an unreasonably short period of time. The more they can deliver and the faster they can deliver it, the more money their company can make. This causes a lot of stress for drivers, often forcing them to make difficult choices between stopping to get some much-needed rest or staying on the road until they drop off their cargo.
To help cope, drivers will sometimes turn to alcohol or other substances. They might also decide to violate federal Hours of Service regulations in order to save time, and while they are driving, it is not unusual for them to travel well over the speed limit and exhibit other aggressive and sometimes reckless driving behaviors.
One issue that is of particular concern in the trucking industry is drowsy driving. When a driver has been going for too long and does not have an adequate amount of sleep, they are much more susceptible to getting tired and fatigued while behind the wheel. This is especially true when traveling during evening and overnight hours, which a lot of truckers do because there is less traffic on the roadways.
In the worst cases, a drowsy or fatigued driver may fall asleep at the wheel. But even if that does not happen, a driver who is sleepy needs all of his/her facilities just to stay awake, and when someone is in this state, they have little if any peripheral vision, and it is very easy to miss important things that are happening on the road.
Trucks that are overloaded or unevenly loaded are also more prone to accidents, especially when there is heavy rain, slippery roads, high winds, and other adverse conditions. The cargo in a tractor-trailer may exceed the weight limit because the trucking and/or shipping company is trying to bring more than what is legally allowed in one load. Unevenly loaded trucks are often the result of being in a hurry and not taking the time necessary to make sure the load is safely secured.
Pursuing a Trucking Accident Injury Claim in Mississippi
When someone gets seriously injured or a loved one gets killed in a Pascagoula truck accident, the victim or their family members deserve to be fully compensated. Compensatory damages may be available not only for direct monetary losses such as medical bills, present and future lost earnings, and property damage, but also for noneconomic losses such as pain-and-suffering (both physical and emotional), diminished quality of life, and permanent injury.
Mississippi is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that an injured party can recover damages even if they are found to be partially at fault for the underlying accident. However, their damage award is reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault they share in the accident. For example, if you suffered a total of $250,000 in losses from a truck accident and you are found to be 20% at fault, your damage award would be reduced by $50,000.
You can be certain that the defendant and their insurer will try to pin at least some of the blame for the accident on you so they can mitigate their losses. This is one of many reasons you want an experienced trucking accident attorney in your corner advocating forcefully for your legal rights and interests.
Contact our Knowledgeable and Compassionate Pascagoula, MS Truck Accident Lawyers
At the Gardner Law Firm, we understand that getting injured in a trucking accident can take a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims and their families, and we are here to provide strong legal guidance and moral support during this difficult time. We handle all of the complicated legal tasks from start to finish, and we deal directly with the other side, so you can keep your focus on getting recovered from your injuries and moving forward with your life.
For a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, message us online or call our office today at 228-436-6555. We look forward to serving you!
We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis – you only pay attorney fees if we win your case