Truck Accident

There are thousands of truck accident victims in North Carolina every year. These collisions often lead to serious, sometimes fatal injuries. The accidents are devastating to those involved, as well as their families. If you or a loved one were hurt in a trucking accident, you might be dealing with a tragic loss, painful injuries, and harsh financial effects.


When your pain is another’s fault, you have the right to hold them responsible by pursuing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. As an experienced and skilled truck accident lawyer, Thom Goolsby is here to help you get everything you deserve. For over 25 years, Attorney Thom Goolsby has been representing injury victims and fighting to hold large trucking companies accountable. We know how to win in court, and more importantly, how to secure the maximum compensation possible for your physical, emotional, and financial injuries. Call Attorney Thom Goolsby today at 910-262-7401, send a text, or contact us online to take the first step in getting what’s right.


We offer 100% free initial consultations, and there are no legal fees unless you recover compensation.

HOW TO WIN TRUCK ACCIDENT CASES

WE HANDLE ALL COMMERCIAL TRUCK ACCIDENTS


After a collision with a semi or any other large commercial truck, do not hesitate to call a trucking lawyer at Goolsby Law Firm. We accept truck accident cases involving:

  • Semi-Trucks
  • Tractor-Trailers
  • 18-Wheelers
  • Garbage Trucks
  • Dump Trucks
  • Tow Trucks
  • Refrigerator Trucks
  • Delivery Trucks
  • Mail Trucks
  • Flatbeds
  • Cement Mixers
  • Tankers
  • Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Vehicles
  • Mobile Cranes
  • Construction Vehicles

If you are unsure of whether or not the other vehicle was a commercial truck, give us a call. When we investigate your claim, we will identify the type of vehicle, whether the truck driver was at- fault, and if they were working at the time.

TYPICAL TRUCK ACCIDENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

We are here to help after any truck accident. Many of the cases we handle include:

  • Wide-Turn Truck Accidents
  • Jackknife Truck Accidents
  • Rollover Truck Accidents
  • U-Turn Truck Accidents
  • Runaway Truck Accidents
  • Brake Failure Truck Accidents
  • Tire Blowout Truck Accidents
  • Override/Underride Truck Accidents
  • Head-On Truck Accidents
  • Read-End Truck Accidents
  • Side Impact “T-Bone” Truck Accidents
  • Blind Spot Truck Accidents
  • Lane Change Truck Accidents
  • Unsecured Load Truck Accidents

TESTIMONIALS


“Thank you Thom Goolsby for helping me with my case. I heard that you were a super attorney, and I heard right! Thank you for your attention to detail and for helping me with this important matter. Your office was always available to assist me, and your care and concern meant a great deal to me. If I ever need an attorney again, you will be the first person that I call.”

Personal Injury Client

“Thom Goolsby and his team were amazing! My spouse was killed in a tragic auto collision leaving me and our child alone. To make matters worse, my deceased spouse was the main supporter of our family. They took over the estate, handled the personal injury and wrongful death claims, and forced the insurance companies to pay the maximum money available for the claim. He also collected all the workers’ compensation funds available. Thom took the time to meet with me, showed real compassion and concern, and gave me sound, well-reasoned advice. He made the best of our sad and tragic loss. Thank you, Thom Goolsby!”

Personal Injury Client

COMMON CAUSES OF TRUCK WRECKS


Truck accidents can cause incredible harm based on their size, speed, and potential cargo. That’s why trucks should always be navigated by trained and licensed professionals. However, this does not stop truck wrecks from happening.


It is important to remember that every commercial driver’s license holder can be careless or reckless behind the wheel. Also, some truck accidents are caused by negligent trucking companies, maintenance providers, manufacturers, or other parties involved with the truck or its cargo.


Some of the factors that typically result in truck accidents are:


  • Speeding: Many truck accidents happen because the trucker is driving too fast for the weather, road, and traffic conditions.
  • Distracted Driving: Truckers need to be vigilant when behind the wheel. However, many still look at their phones, eat and drink while driving, and reach for objects in their cab. Any manual, visual, and cognitive distraction increases the risk of an accident.
  • Fatigued Truck Drivers: Truck drivers are required to adhere to federal hours of service regulations. Truckers who drive beyond these hours, or operate a truck after too little sleep, may cause a serious crash.
  • Negligent Hiring and Retention: Truckers should have a CDL and the proper training and experience for the truck and cargo they are hauling. If an unqualified driver is hired and retained, and this trucker causes your injuries, you may be able to hold the trucking company liable.
  • Negligent Maintenance: Commercial trucks must be consistently inspected, repaired, and overall, well-maintained. However, a skilled 18-wheeler accident lawyer may discover that a lack of maintenance led to a dangerous defect, which caused the crash.
  • Vehicle Defects: A thorough investigation may uncover that a design or manufacturing defect in the truck caused the accident. In which case, your truck accident lawyer will identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
  • Brake Failure: Whether because of a design or manufacturing defect or negligent maintenance, the brakes or another system in the truck may fail and lead to a crash.
  • Impaired Driving: While truckers should be well-rested and alert when operating a large commercial truck, some drivers get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or using drugs. We have handled many cases in which there is evidence of drunk or drugged driving.
  • Overloading/Negligent Secured Cargo: Sometimes, it is the cargo and not the truck that leads to a crash. If the cargo is not secured and shifts or leaves the truck, this can lead to a devastating accident.


Regardless of what led to your situation, it is always best to get the facts from a knowledgeable and committed personal injury lawyer. Let Attorney Thom Goolsby review the circumstances, explain what you are dealing with, and how he can help after a truck crash.

INVESTIGATING TRUCK ACCIDENTS


Truck accident cases can become complicated fast, and a thorough investigation is usually critical to getting maximum value for your various damages.


Important evidence is usually under the truck driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer, and other parties’ control. An experienced attorney will take immediate steps to preserve that evidence. This includes sending Evidence Preservation Letters to everyone involved. This letter informs the parties of your claim and puts them on notice not to destroy potentially relevant evidence, including the trucker’s logs, employment records, and any data from the trucks’ electronic logging device, similar to an airplane’s black box.


From there, your attorney will deal with the insurance company, file a personal injury claim, or wrongful death lawsuit against the relevant parties. Through the discovery process, your lawyer can gather the facts and other essential details. The ELD data is particularly crucial in determining the truck driver’s actions in the seconds, minutes, and hours before the collision.

TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURIES


The road to physically recovering after a truck wreck can be long and difficult. Goolsby Law Firm, PLLC is here to fight for you when you are suffering from:

  • Bone Fractures
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Lacerations
  • Facial and Dental Injuries
  • Muscle or Tendon Strains
  • Ligament Sprains
  • Whiplash
  • Herniated Discs
  • Other Neck or Back Injuries
  • Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
  • Dislocation
  • Amputations
  • Crush Injuries
  • Nerve Damage
  • Burns
  • Hearing or Vision Loss
  • PTSD or Other Mental Health Conditions

Whether you are suffering from moderate or catastrophic injuries, or you are helping your family deal with a fatal truck accident, we will help you pursue a full and fair commercial vehicle accident settlement. We will meet with your doctors and other experts to gather proof of your pain and suffering and financial losses. Once we know what you need to get better and back to your life, we will fight for every dollar possible from the insurer.

DAMAGES IN TRUCK ACCIDENT CASES


Depending on the exact circumstances, we may pursue compensation through an insurance claim or a truck accident lawsuit. Your truck accident lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit to gain additional information through discovery or to show the insurance company you mean business. We may also file even if we expect to win an insurance settlement and not take your claim to trial.


At Goolsby Law Firm, we will fight hard for:


  • Medical Expenses
  • Lost Wages
  • Other Injury-Related Expenses
  • Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
  • Pain and Suffering

PURSUE THE MAXIMUM TRUCK ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

The challenges of tractor-trailer cases include significant injuries and property damage. This includes catastrophic injuries and tragic deaths. Even when moving at lower speeds, a truck’s weight (semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds) makes collisions incredibly dangerous.


Most commercial trucks have sizable insurance policies, held by large trucking companies. However, the presence of an insurance policy with a high limit does not guarantee a favorable outcome. You need to work with a highly experienced truck accident lawyer to identify and calculate your damages, which is a legal term encompassing your physical, psychological, and financial injuries.


You only have one chance to secure the maximum compensation possible. Initial settlements offered by truck companies likely won’t take your long-term needs into account. By accepting a low-ball settlement offer early on, you could be leaving money on the table. By working with veteran attorney Thom Goolsby, you have someone who understands the importance of documenting your pain and suffering, as well as all of your other accident-related expenses, and how to fight for every dollar possible.

In most personal injury claims, the largest portion of a settlement or court award is pain and suffering. But this can also be the most difficult type of damage to value.


It is essential you work with an experienced attorney to gather evidence of your pain and suffering. We will work closely with you to create:


  • Medical records: We will review records from the paramedics, the physicians who attended you when you were hospitalized after the crash, and the doctors who cared for you to see what they noted regarding your condition and pain.
  • A pain and suffering diary: We will ask you to take a few minutes each day to describe your symptoms and experience, including your physical pain, emotional distress, sleepless nights, and anything else you are suffering due to the truck accident and your injuries.
  • Photos of your injuries: Physical evidence of your injuries often helps jurors understand what you went through. Seeing the cuts, bruises, sutures, and casts helps them empathize with your pain and suffering.
  • Affidavits from witnesses: We will ask your family members, friends, and others to testify regarding what they saw you go through.

GOOLSBY LAW FIRM CASE RESULTS


July 6, 2021
VETERAN FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOUND NOT GUILTY OF TWO OFFENSES When a disabled veteran was found with drug paraphernalia and marijuana in his vehicle, he was arrested and charged. To make matters worse, the officer who stopped him also charged the man with DWI (driving while impaired) and open container in a motor vehicle. Wanting to avoid the harsh penalties that would come from convictions on these offenses, the man reached out to Goolsby Law Firm for help. Attorney Thom Goolsby took the case to trial, where the client denied the impaired driving charge. Working hard to protect the client’s freedom and rights, attorney Goolsby advocated on the veteran’s behalf. As such, the client was found not guilty of the DWI and paraphernalia charges. While he was guilty of marijuana possession and the open container charge, he was simply ordered to pay court costs.
July 6, 2021
ASSAULT CHARGE DISMISSED Recently, an individual in North Carolina found himself in some trouble when he was charged with assault after an incident at a nightclub. The individual denied assaulting the club’s bouncer, but still faced the criminal charges, so he reached out to Goolsby Law Firm for help.  Attorney Thom Goolsby immediately got to work on the case. Due to his quick involvement and swift action, the case was dismissed.
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Dealing with an arrest in New Hanover is scary, and it’s hard to know what you can and cannot request so you can defend yourself. This is one of the many reasons to work with an experienced local attorney. However,... The post NC Criminal Charges: Can I See the Witness Statements? appeared first on Goolsby Law Firm.
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What Does a Defense Lawyer Cost in Wilmington, NC
By Goolsby_admin February 21, 2020
Many things will race through your mind after an arrest. One of them will inevitably be, “What is this going to cost?” First, you must understand that a criminal conviction can cost you more than just money. When choosing a... The post What Does a Defense Lawyer Cost in Wilmington, NC? appeared first on Goolsby Law Firm.
READ MORE CASE RESULTS

WHY TRIAL EXPERIENCE IS VITAL IN TRUCK ACCIDENT CASES


When you are injured in a trucking accident, you may rely on the trucking company’s insurance provider for a settlement. And this may be true. However, you should not discount going to court.


These companies are focused on their bottom lines, not your health and well-being. Filing a truck accident lawsuit is often necessary to gather evidence controlled by the other parties. It also shows the at-fault party and their insurer that you are serious about your case. It shows them that you will take your claim to a jury trial if they do not negotiate a fair settlement in good faith.


Too much is on the line after being injured or losing a loved one in a truck accident. You need to work with a truck accident lawyer who has and will go to court. Thom Goolsby has worked on truck accident claims for nearly three decades and has settled or litigated thousands of personal injury claims. He has represented many truck accident victims and successfully secured the maximum amount possible because he knows how to convey pain and suffering.

CONTACT A WILMINGTON TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER RIGHT AWAY


If you were hurt in a truck accident, or your loved one was the victim of a fatal truck crash, we recommend contacting a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling truck accident claims. Thom Goolsby has decades of experience and a history of getting results. He is not afraid to go up against national trucking companies or their major insurers, and will aggressively fight for you at every turn — in and out of court.


At Goolsby Law Firm, our goal will always be to get what you need and everything you deserve. Take the first step by giving us a call at 910-262-7401 or contact us online. Attorney Thom Goolsby will personally get in touch as soon as possible.


Initial consultations are always free, and we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning fees upfront and no fees until we get you compensation.

FREE CONSULTATIONS 24/7

CONTACT GOOLSBY LAW FIRM TODAY


Like any quality criminal defense attorney, Thom Goolsby may be in court when you first call, but leave a voice mail or send a text. We’ll get with you as soon as possible, so we can go over what happened, evaluate the case, and explain what comes next.

CALL 910-262-7401 NOW OR USE OUR ONLINE FORM

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