Raleigh Truck Accident Lawyer

Why Raleigh Truck Accident Victims Call Us Before They Call Insurance

Right now, you already know one thing: you got seriously hurt in a truck accident. But there are a lot of things you may not know. Will the trucking company’s insurance adjuster offer a lowball settlement? How will you pay your medical bills while you are out of work? How is this truck accident different from a car crash?  

We understand your questions. You are not alone in this process. The truck accident lawyers at O’Malley Tunstall, PC can investigate your claim, help you understand your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Our Raleigh truck accident lawyer team helps clients hurt in large truck wrecks across Eastern North Carolina. We know how these companies build their defense and we fiercely advocate for the full compensation of our clients’ medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Attorney Joe Tunstall heads our personal injury division, and he has 100+ plaintiff’s verdicts. He is willing to fight hard so that our clients, including those whose loved ones died in fatal accidents, receive fair compensation for their losses.

Reach out and tell us what happened. Let us start working on your case while you focus on getting better.

The Kinds of Commercial Truck Wrecks We Handle in Raleigh and Wake County

Raleigh sits where I-40, I-440, and I-540 carry a steady stream of tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, and logging trucks in and out of Eastern North Carolina. We handle claims involving:

• Tractor-trailer and 18-wheeler wrecks on I-95, I-40, I-440, and I-540, where a fully loaded rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
• Logging truck accidents, including overloaded trailers and worn brakes common on rigs hauling out of Eastern North Carolina’s timber country.
• Delivery and box truck crashes involving local and regional carriers making stops in Raleigh neighborhoods.
• Jackknife and underride accidents, where a trailer swings out of control or a smaller vehicle slides underneath it.
• Dump truck and construction vehicle wrecks at job sites and along roadways under repair.
• Crashes tied to driver fatigue, where a trucking company pushed a driver past federal hours-of-service limits.
• Wrongful death claims after a fatal collision with a commercial vehicle.

If your situation does not fit neatly into one of these, tell us what happened anyway. Some truck crashes don’t fit a specific category.

Truck Accident Injuries

There are many different types of injuries that can be sustained in a trucking accident. The damages you could receive are meant to compensate you for your injuries. Potential injuries may include:

• Spinal cord injuries: These can lead to paralysis or quadriplegia.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Brain injuries can cause long-term cognitive impairments and require significant medical care.
• Amputations: The loss of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger, or toe can cause lifelong impairment.
• Burn injuries: Burn injuries can be extremely painful, require surgery, and put you at risk of infection.
• Soft tissue injuries: These include injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that may limit everyday activities.
• Broken bones: Fractured or broken bones can require surgery and long-term physical therapy.
• Internal bleeding and organ damage: These injuries can require surgery and long-term medical care.
• Lacerations: Deep cuts can require surgery to repair.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible after a truck accident. Some injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, may not be immediately apparent. A doctor will be able to properly diagnose your injuries and provide you with the treatment you need.

How We Build Your Case Against the Trucking Company’s Insurer

Trucking companies and their insurers have teams built to minimize what they pay. Our trial attorneys have secured 200+ verdicts in North Carolina courts, and we built our practice to counter that imbalance. In truck accident cases, we try to:

• Secure and preserve evidence fast, including the truck’s electronic control module data and dashcam footage, before the trucking company can lose or overwrite it.
• Pull the driver’s hours-of-service logs and the carrier’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspection history to check for violations.
• Identify every layer of insurance coverage available, since a commercial truck policy often stacks multiple policies far beyond what a passenger car carries.
• Calculate the full value of your claim, including medical care you have not needed yet but will.
• Negotiate from a position built on evidence, and if the insurer will not offer a fair number, we take the case to trial.

What Determines What Your Raleigh Truck Accident Claim Is Worth

No two truck accident claims are worth the same amount, and anyone who promises you a number before reviewing your medical records and the crash itself is guessing. What moves the number is:

• The severity and permanence of your injuries.
• Whether you can return to the same job, a modified job, or no job at all.
• The total cost of your past and future medical care.
• Who else shares fault, and how North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule applies to your case.

We will not know your number until we know your case, but we will tell you plainly what we see once we do.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Commercial Vehicle Accident?

Depending on the unique facts of your case, different parties may be held liable, including:

• The truck driver: If the truck driver was negligent in operating the truck, they may be held liable.
• The trucking company: If the trucking company did not properly maintain the truck, failed to properly train the driver, or pressured the driver to break the rules, they may be held liable.
• The manufacturer of the truck or its parts: If the truck or its parts were defective, the manufacturer may be held liable.
• The shipper or loader of the cargo: If the cargo was improperly loaded or secured, the shipper or loader may be held liable.

When you are injured in a truck accident, it is important to know who is responsible so that you can recover the damages you deserve. 

We’re Here to Help You Take the Next Step

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Questions Raleigh Truck Accident Victims Ask Us Most

How long has O’Malley Tunstall handled truck accident cases in the Raleigh area?

We have represented injured North Carolinians in commercial vehicle and logging truck cases for decades, with offices in Raleigh and Rocky Mount. 

What is my truck accident claim worth?

It depends on your injuries, your medical costs, your lost income, and who else shares fault in your specific crash. We cannot give you an honest number until we have reviewed your case.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in North Carolina?

Most personal injury claims in North Carolina, including truck accident claims, must be filed within three years of the crash under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52. Waiting too long can permanently bar your claim, so it is worth talking to us sooner rather than later.

Where will my Raleigh truck accident case be heard if it goes to trial?

If your case ends up in a lawsuit, it will most likely be filed at the Wake County Courthouse, 316 Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, where Wake County Superior Court handles civil claims of this size. We have appeared in that courthouse for years and know how cases move through it, from the first filing to trial if it comes to that. 

Does North Carolina’s fault rule affect my case if I was partly to blame?

North Carolina follows a strict contributory negligence rule, meaning if you are found even slightly at fault, you can be barred from recovering anything, unless a narrow exception applies. This makes early investigation critical to protecting your side of the story before the trucking company builds its own version of events.

Does Raleigh see a lot of log truck accidents, and are those cases different?

Eastern North Carolina has many logging trucks, and those wrecks often involve overloaded trailers or worn brakes rather than simple driver error. We have handled logging truck cases across the region and know what to look for in the equipment and paperwork.

What should I do right after a truck accident on I-40 or the Beltline?

Get medical attention first, even if you feel fine, since some injuries take time to show up. Then contact us before you speak with the trucking company’s insurance adjuster, who will already be building their side of the case.

How much does it cost to hire O’Malley Tunstall for a truck accident case?

We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Your first consultation costs nothing either.

Will the trucking company’s insurer contact me, and should I talk to them?

Yes, and their adjuster’s job is to protect the company’s money, not to look out for you. Let us handle those conversations once you hire us, so nothing you say gets used against your own claim.

Talk to a Raleigh Truck Accident Lawyer About What Happened to You

You do not have to figure out the trucking company’s insurance game on your own. Contact O’Malley Tunstall today for a free consultation. We can review what happened and discuss your legal options. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.