A Memphis truck accident attorney can be a great help and even a necessity if you have been injured in an accident involving an 18 wheeler.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports a total of 4,889 large truck and bus accidents in 2017. That number represents a 42 percent increase from 2009; statistics show that fatal large truck and bus accidents increased by nearly seven percent from the previous year.

In many cases, these accidents are due to the negligence of the driver or the company that owns and operates the vehicle. In such cases, the victim or his/her family is wise to contact an experienced truck accident attorney immediately in order to recover losses and damages to the maximum amount allowed by law.

How Truck Accidents Happen

Numerous factors come into play in causing traffic accidents involving a large truck. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, common factors involved in these mishaps include:

• driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• distracted driving
• fatigue
• reckless driving (speeding, failure to maintain stopping distance, etc.)
• inexperience or lack of training
• weather conditions

Other causes that may be caused by the trucking company include poorly-maintained vehicles, improper loading and/or excessive weight.

What to Do If You Are Involved in a Truck Accident

Should you be hit by an 18-wheeler, the first thing to do if you are able is to check on any passengers in your vehicle for injuries and attempt to get everyone out of the vehicle. If there are injuries, call 911 immediately. If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic and on to the shoulder of the road.

It is also important to document as much as possible by taking pictures and recording video. Write down as much information as possible, including the make and model of the truck, the company it belongs to (if applicable) and all licensing and insurance information.

It’s best to avoid speaking to anyone about the accident until law enforcement arrives, as anything you say might be interpreted as an admission of liability. When talking to law enforcment, avoid giving any information beyond what is asked.

How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

In building a case, the first order of business is to establish liability on the part of the truck driver and/or the trucking company. In the first case, it is important to know if the driver was distracted, under the influence, or fatigued, or was operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner.

Secondly, your truck accident attorney will need to know if there were any mechanical defects or maintenance issues that contributed to the accident. There may be others at fault as well.

There are two things to keep in mind: first, because an injury case involving a commercial truck is more complex than a simple auto accident, it is important to retain a lawyer as soon as possible. Second, there is a statute of limitations on injury accident claims. This means you must file your case within a certain number of years of the accident, or you may lose all your rights to compensation.