Commercial trucks and cars may share the road, but the tremendous difference in their size and weight can have catastrophic consequences when an accident occurs. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — more than 20 times the weight of the average passenger car. That disparity can mean far more serious injuries for people in the smaller car, leaving them to face extended recovery periods and long-term challenges for years to come.
North Carolina is no stranger to truck accidents. The most recent data available from the NC Department of Transportation’s Vision Zero dashboard reports that around 107,000 people suffered injuries and over 130 died in commercial motor vehicle crashes statewide. Over 2,100 of those injuries happened in New Hanover County, and of that number, over 1,600 were in Wilmington.
If a large truck left you hurt in or around Wilmington, Houser Injury Law can help. When you work with us, you get a Wilmington truck accident lawyer who has successfully represented injured North Carolinians across New Hanover County for over four decades. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Choose Houser Injury Law for Your Wilmington Truck Accident Case?
Trucking cases move fast, and the company’s insurer often has an investigator on the accident scene before you leave the hospital. Houser Injury Law can respond quickly to investigate the crash and gather evidence while it’s still fresh, giving you space to focus on your truck accident injuries without worrying about what happens next.
With over 40 years of legal experience, firm founder Jackie Houser is an award-winning personal injury attorney who has earned professional recognition as a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” from The National Trial Lawyers. She is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor limited to attorneys who have recovered million- or multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients.
Our case results speak for themselves. In one trucking accident case, we secured $682,000 for a client who suffered rib and back injuries in a collision with a commercial truck. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case, but they show the kind of preparation and negotiation our clients can expect when handling their Wilmington truck accident claims.
Read what former client Betty Barnhill has to say about working with our legal team:
“I cannot say enough good things about the staff. They were everything you could ask for in a law practice and more. They made a terrible experience easier to get through, and we received a settlement beyond our expectations. We thank them and will be forever grateful.”
Houser Injury Law operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we win your case.
How Our Wilmington Truck Accident Attorneys Build Your Case
Truck accident cases involve more evidence and more moving parts than a typical car accident case. A truck accident attorney from Houser Injury Law can move quickly to protect relevant information to build a strong personal injury claim.
Here’s how we do it:
Accident Scene Investigation
The sooner we can investigate an accident scene, the stronger the case can be. When possible, we will document skid marks, road conditions, and vehicle positions, and locate nearby surveillance footage before it is erased. If time has passed, some of this evidence may be documented in the police report or photos taken by truck accident victims, witnesses, and insurance adjusters.
Send an Evidence Preservation Letter
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) only requires truck companies to keep records regarding hours-of-service, vehicle inspection reports, maintenance records, and certain other documents for a limited time. Federal retention rules can range from as little as six months to a year or more. We can send a formal notice requiring the trucking company to retain relevant black box data, driver logs, and inspection records rather than routinely deleting them.
Obtain Black Box Analysis
Event data recorders can record information such as the vehicle’s speed, braking, and gear changes in the seconds leading up to the crash. This data can be essential when determining liability for a truck accident. Our law firm has strong working relationships with accident reconstruction experts who can review technical information to explain how your 18-wheeler accident happened.
Review Truck Driver and Trucking Company Records
We will request the driver’s qualification file, training history, and drug and alcohol test results to check whether the company put an unsafe driver behind the wheel.
Inspect Truck Maintenance History
Our legal team can examine inspection and repair logs to determine whether a mechanical failure, such as worn brakes or a tire defect, contributed to the truck crash. Part of that process involves investigating whether the truck company followed federal rules for inspecting and maintaining its fleet and whether third-party maintenance providers and mechanics performed repairs as needed.
File a Truck Accident Claim and Enter Settlement Negotiations
We will handle every call and letter from the trucking company’s insurer so you are not pressured into a lowball settlement. If the insurer refuses to offer a fair amount, Houser Injury Law is prepared to file a truck accident lawsuit and take your case to trial in pursuit of the compensation you deserve.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents Near Wilmington?
Wilmington’s location near the Port of Wilmington means a steady stream of tractor-trailers move through the area every day, especially along I-140, US-17, and NC-133. That heavy truck traffic raises the risk of a serious semi-truck accident on local roads and highways.
Many truck crashes trace back to the choices a driver or trucking company made. A driver might follow too closely, run a red light, or speed to make up time on a tight delivery schedule. A trucking company might skip a required inspection, fail to post warning signs around a work zone, or push a driver to stay behind the wheel longer than federal hours-of-service rules allow. Fatigue, distraction, and improperly secured cargo also show up in truck accident investigations.
Because a commercial vehicle takes much longer to stop than a passenger car, even a small mistake can turn into a catastrophic collision. Our firm can review your accident-related injuries and the circumstances of the collision to identify the parties involved and seek compensation from every available source.
What If My Truck Accident Case Goes to Court in New Hanover County?
Most truck accident claims settle before trial, but some do not. When a Wilmington truck accident case goes to court, it may be filed in New Hanover County Superior Court based on the specific facts of the case. North Carolina law gives injured people three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Waiting too long can mean losing your right to recover anything at all, so it helps to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
North Carolina is also one of only a handful of states that still follows a pure contributory negligence rule. Under this rule, you could be barred from recovering compensation if the insurance company successfully argues you were even 1% at fault for the crash. With such high stakes, it’s crucial to have an experienced truck accident law firm on your side from the start.
Contact Our Wilmington Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You should not have to face a trucking company and its insurer alone. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a commercial motor vehicle crash, an experienced truck accident lawyer from Houser Injury Law can sit down and talk about your situation in a free, no-obligation consultation. Call or contact us now to get started.