This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by JR Krebs following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. JR Krebs, the Founding Partner, has years of legal experience as a bankruptcy attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
Truck accidents in Mobile can cause serious injuries and leave victims with many questions. These crashes often involve big commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, or construction vehicles. When these accidents happen, you might need help from a lawyer who knows about truck accident cases.
After a truck crash, you may face medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage. Insurance companies might call you right away, trying to get you to accept a small payment. This can be confusing when you're still dealing with injuries and trying to recover.
Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers helps people hurt in truck accidents throughout Mobile. We explain your rights, answer your questions, and work to get fair payment for your injuries.
A Mobile truck accident case happens when a large commercial vehicle crashes with another vehicle, person, or property in the Mobile area. These accidents often occur on busy highways like I-10, the Bayway, or the Cochrane-Africatown Bridge where many trucks travel each day. Truck accidents can be more serious than car crashes because trucks are bigger and heavier, causing worse damage and injuries.
Mobile faces special challenges with truck accidents due to the busy port bringing in many commercial vehicles. The Port of Mobile creates heavy truck traffic throughout the city, increasing accident risks near shipping areas and industrial zones. Local regulations about truck routes, weight limits, and delivery schedules can also affect who is responsible when a crash happens.
Truck drivers in Alabama must follow both state laws and federal rules when operating their vehicles. Alabama has its own set of traffic laws that apply to all drivers, including those operating large commercial trucks. Federal regulations add extra requirements for truck drivers who cross state lines, including rules about how long they can drive, when they must rest, and how they should maintain their vehicles.
Alabama follows a legal rule called contributory negligence that can make truck accident cases difficult for injured people. This rule means if you had any part in causing the accident - even just 1% - you might not get any money for your injuries. This is why having clear evidence about what happened in the accident is so important in Alabama truck cases.
The Alabama Code §32-5A sets speed limits for different roads and requires trucks to drive at a "reasonable and prudent" speed based on conditions like weather and traffic.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations control many aspects of trucking including driver qualifications, how long drivers can work, drug testing, and vehicle maintenance.Local Mobile ordinances restrict which roads trucks can use, where they can park, and when they can make deliveries in certain parts of the city.
After a truck accident, you may qualify for different types of money to help with your losses. These fall into two main groups: economic damages (money losses you can calculate) and non-economic damages (harms that don't have a clear price tag but still affect your life).
Finding who is at fault in a truck accident helps decide who pays for your injuries and damages. Unlike car accidents that usually involve just the drivers, truck accidents often have multiple parties who may share blame.
In Alabama, multiple parties can be held responsible for the same accident through what's called joint liability. Each party's insurance policy may cover different parts of your claim, sometimes with higher coverage limits than regular car insurance. Trucking companies typically carry larger insurance policies because commercial trucks can cause more severe damage.
Truck drivers may be responsible when they make unsafe choices while driving. Driver fatigue happens when truckers drive too many hours without proper rest, making them less alert and slower to react to road hazards. Speeding, texting while driving, or operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs are other common driver errors that lead to crashes.
The company that owns the truck or employs the driver often shares responsibility for accidents. A trucking company might hire drivers without checking their driving history or giving them proper training before sending them on the road. Companies that pressure drivers to meet tight deadlines might encourage unsafe practices like skipping rest breaks or driving too fast.
Companies responsible for truck maintenance can be liable if poor upkeep leads to an accident. Brake failures, tire blowouts, or steering problems often result from missed or inadequate inspections that should catch these issues before they cause crashes. Maintenance records become important evidence in these cases, showing whether regular safety checks were performed correctly.
Parties who load cargo onto trucks can cause accidents if they don't secure the freight properly. Unbalanced loads can make trucks harder to control, especially when turning or stopping suddenly. Cargo that shifts during transport may cause the driver to lose control, or items falling from the truck create road hazards for other vehicles.
Taking the right actions after a truck accident in Mobile can protect your health and legal rights during a difficult time.
Move to safety if possible. Get to the shoulder or a safe area away from traffic to avoid additional collisions. Turn on hazard lights or set up flares if available to warn other drivers.
Call 911 for police and medical help. Even minor injuries can become serious problems later if not treated promptly. The police report will provide an official record of what happened during the accident.
Exchange information with the truck driver. Write down the driver's name, contact details, trucking company name, and insurance information. Also note the truck's license plate number and any identification numbers visible on the cab or trailer.
Document the accident scene. Take pictures of vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries you have. Ask any witnesses for their names and phone numbers so they can help explain what happened.
Talk with a truck accident lawyer before speaking to insurance companies. Insurance adjusters may try to get you to make statements that hurt your case or accept a low settlement. A lawyer familiar with Mobile truck accidents can explain your options and help protect your rights.
Driver fatigue ranks among the top reasons for truck crashes in Mobile, with many drivers pushing beyond safe limits to meet delivery deadlines. Heavy rain, fog, and occasional ice create dangerous driving conditions along coastal highways, making it harder for large trucks to stop safely. The busy Port of Mobile generates constant commercial traffic, with loaded trucks entering and exiting at all hours, creating congestion points where accidents frequently occur.
Road construction projects throughout Mobile County create unexpected lane shifts and merges that challenge truck drivers unfamiliar with local routes. The tunnels and bridges connecting Mobile to surrounding areas become bottlenecks during rush hour, forcing trucks to navigate tight spaces alongside passenger vehicles. Poorly maintained sections of older highways around Mobile contribute to accidents when truck drivers must suddenly react to potholes, uneven pavement, or missing road markers.
A lawyer with experience in truck accidents can guide you through the many steps of your case while you focus on healing from your injuries.
Gathering important evidence before it disappears. Truck accident lawyers can get the truck's black box data, which shows how fast the truck was going and when the driver hit the brakes. They can also request the driver's logbooks, maintenance records, and company safety policies before these items are lost or changed.
Talking with insurance companies on your behalf. Insurance adjusters often try to get you to say things that hurt your case or accept low offers right after an accident. Your attorney handles these conversations for you and knows the true value of your injuries based on similar cases they've handled.
Finding all possible responsible parties. Your lawyer looks beyond just the truck driver to find others who might share blame, like the trucking company, maintenance provider, or cargo loader. This approach increases your chances of getting full payment for your injuries, especially in Alabama where you can't recover money if you're found partly at fault.
Filing your lawsuit correctly and on time. There are strict deadlines for filing truck accident cases in Alabama, and missing these deadlines means losing your right to compensation. Your attorney prepares all legal documents properly and makes sure everything is filed within Alabama's two-year time limit.
Preparing your case for settlement or trial. Most truck accident cases settle before trial, but your lawyer builds your case as if it will go to court. They work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and financial specialists to show exactly how the accident happened and how it affects your life.
In Alabama, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a truck accident lawsuit. This time limit is called the statute of limitations and is strictly enforced by courts. If you wait too long and miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
Alabama follows a strict rule called "contributory negligence" that can affect your case if you were partly at fault. Under this rule, if you had any role in causing the accident - even a small one - you might not be able to recover any money for your injuries. This makes having strong evidence and proper legal help especially important in Alabama truck accident cases.
Most truck accident lawyers in Mobile work on what's called a "contingency fee" basis. This means you don't pay any money upfront or by the hour for their services. Instead, the lawyer only gets paid if they win your case or secure a settlement, typically taking a percentage of the money recovered.
Truck accident cases involve many legal details that can be hard to handle while you're recovering from injuries. Our Mobile truck accident lawyers understand Alabama's strict contributory negligence laws and how they affect your ability to receive compensation. We work with accident reconstruction experts to gather evidence quickly before it disappears, which can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
You can talk with our team about your truck accident case during a free consultation. Contact Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers today to discuss your situation and learn about your legal options.
J.R. is dedicated to providing personalized representation, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. He tailors his strategy to the unique challenges and needs of each client and case, ensuring focused and individualized attention.
His practice mainly covers Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, including car and 18-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death. He also handles commercial disputes on contingency, with experience in contracts, construction, and probate. For any dispute headed toward litigation, J.R. develops an aggressive strategy to maximize your recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
"*" indicates required fields
