Jackson Truck Accident Lawyer

Top Rated Truck Accident Attorney in Jackson, MS

If you or a loved one was in a recent accident involving a truck driver, you have substantial rights and may be entitled to financial recovery. With the help of a Jackson truck accident lawyer from Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., we can pursue all available compensation to help you move forward after a serious accident. Contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.

If you were a victim of a truck accident because a driver violated regulations or acted negligently, you need legal support. A Jackson truck accident lawyer can help you pursue the level of compensation that you deserve.

Why Choose Us

Truck drivers may violate federal trucking regulations or otherwise act irresponsibly. At Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., our Mississippi attorneys have substantial experience with commercial vehicle cases and have a track record of success resolving claims on behalf of our clients. Contact our experienced lawyers in Jackson to discuss the value of your truck accident claim and your specific damages.

Every truck accident claim is unique, and we use our understanding of Mississippi and federal trucking regulations to develop a strategy tailored to your case. We collaborate with professionals in the trucking field to determine the cause of your accident, and we collaborate with clients to ensure their goals are met when we handle their accident claim.

When you hire our attorneys, you partner with someone who won’t rest until we’ve pursued all available compensation. Our team of lawyers has earned many awards in our field, and on behalf of our clients, we’ve recovered more than $265,000,000 in settlements and jury verdicts. Feel free to call us to discuss how our experience and background can benefit your situation. As always, our team can schedule a no-cost consultation right away.

Federal Regulations for Truck Drivers

Commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, big rigs, and tractor-trailers typically have substantial size and mass. They often weigh at least 20 times what a standard passenger vehicle weighs. As a result, truck drivers have additional responsibility when operating a commercial vehicle. They often have supplemental liability as well. All truck drivers must follow rules provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which include:

• Not driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or greater
• Not drinking any alcohol within the four hours before they drive their vehicle
• A requirement that they must be over 21 years old
• Showing an ability to drive safely
• Routinely inspecting their vehicle and its loads
• Not driving in adverse weather conditions, or using extreme caution
• Taking regular rest breaks at their scheduled times
• Not logging more than a specified number of driving hours

There are more regulations that apply to all truck drivers operating commercial vehicles. Some drivers ignore the regulations so they can maximize their route and delivery efficiency. Also, their employers often push employee drivers to push beyond their limits to increase company profits. When this happens, drivers can cause serious wrecks. If this has happened to you or a loved one, you deserve the chance to recover financially.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There are some common causes of commercial vehicle crashes. When you hire an attorney, they can establish legal responsibility for the driver as the cause of the accident. Also, they can evaluate any other potential factors that may have caused your truck accident. These factors may include:

• Impaired driving due to alcohol and/or drug use
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Driver fatigue
• Improperly balanced cargo
• Unsafe operation of the vehicle due to weather, grade, or visibility
• Improperly maintained or falsified driver logs, maintenance records, or inspection logs
• Moving violations like improper lane changes or tailgating
• Driving while distracted

Your attorney can work with professionals in the trucking industry to determine the specific cause or factors that contributed to your accident. They may consult accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and highway safety engineers. Then, your attorney has a full picture of what happened during your wreck, and they can present evidence of driver recklessness or negligence.

Other Causes of Accidents

With big rigs specifically, accidents tend to happen in some common ways. These include:

• Brake Failure. Vehicles must be in working order to keep drivers and other vehicle occupants safe. When truck drivers and companies fail to properly maintain vehicle brakes, it can lead to mechanical failure and serious accidents. Large big rigs need a significant amount of road when they need to stop, and if their brakes fail, it can cause a serious accident.
• Jackknife Accidents. When a truck’s trailer swings out to the side, it typically forms a dangerous, sharp angle with the cab that resembles a folding pocketknife. It can happen if a driver’s trailer loses traction and starts to skid. Equipment failure, poor weather, a negligent driver, and other factors can cause a jackknife. It’s especially dangerous because it can cause multi-vehicle accidents, serious injuries, and even deaths.
• Cell Phone Use. When drivers are distracted by a cell phone, it increases the danger for everyone around them. The FMCSA has published rules specifically banning interstate truck drivers from texting and/or using hand-held mobile phones while driving their vehicles. If distracted by a cell phone, one can cause a dangerous situation.
• Tire Blowouts. Drivers and their employers must regularly inspect tires to ensure proper working order. Tire blowouts can lead to catastrophic situations.
• Lack of Experience. Inexperienced drivers often are not ready to handle challenging situations that may arise when they first start driving. Also, they may not understand the unique aspects of driving a large big rig truck at the beginning of their career. When they’re inexperienced, it can cause dangerous situations and crashes.
• Overloaded Trucks. When trucking companies exceed a truck’s weight capacity, it can impact its braking and overall handling. This often makes it more prone to catastrophic accidents.
• Road Conditions. In Jackson, uneven roadway surfaces, potholes, or other road hazards can destabilize large trucks and cause serious rollover accidents.

Regardless of the cause of your accident, you may need help establishing legal fault. Fortunately, an experienced Jackson truck accident lawyer can provide reliable legal assistance.

Establishing Fault for a Truck Accident

In 2023 alone, there were 22 crash fatalities involving large trucks across Mississippi. Accidents happen frequently, and if you’re involved in an accident, it can be overwhelming. It can be challenging to gather evidence, and witnesses may quickly forget what happened.

Luckily, an attorney can provide help as soon as you’re involved in an unexpected accident. If a truck driver hits you, an attorney can:

• Move quickly to preserve evidence
• Contact witnesses
• Communicate with insurance adjusters for you
• Gather truck company records
• Ensure the truck isn’t repaired to conduct an inspection
• Request the truck’s on-board electronic data to support your position
• Get a copy of the truck driver’s driving records
• Inspect all trucking records for the truck involved
• Review all available evidence
• Retain necessary professionals to determine the full value of your truck accident claim

After an accident, an attorney can look at all potential angles and develop a strategy tailored to your individual crash. They can determine the maximum value of your claim and represent your interests throughout your recovery period. It can be difficult to prove liability for a truck accident without the help of a lawyer. Your lawyer can review evidence and build a solid recovery case to hold the at-fault party liable.

Determining Liability for a Truck Accident

There could be several parties liable or responsible for a truck accident. Liability for truck accidents is case-specific. An attorney can conduct a thorough investigation through available evidence to assess who is accountable for your accident. Also, they may collaborate with trusted professionals to determine who has financial responsibility for your accident. Every case is unique, but some accidents involve:

• Truck drivers
• Trucking companies
• Maintenance companies
• Distributors
• Truck manufacturers
• Manufacturers of component parts

Regardless of who is ultimately determined to have caused your truck accident, it’s important to contact an experienced attorney right away. You only have a short period of time to file a damages claim, and if you miss the deadline, you’re usually prevented from recovering financially.

It’s worth contacting an attorney as soon as possible so they can begin to review your case facts. Attorneys benefit from having ample time to investigate your specific accident to build a strong case and maximize your accident recovery. Contact Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., to hear about our legal services and how we can help.

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