Asheville Truck Accident Lawyer

Understanding the Causes of Truck Accidents

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

“a total of 4,119 people died in large truck crashes in 2019. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 67 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.”

Our truck accident lawyer understands the tragic outcome when a truck collides with a car or hits a pedestrian. That is why Lakota Denton is committed to putting his legal skills to work fighting on behalf of his clients.

These numerous truck accidents were caused by a range of issues often based on negligent behavior by any number of players. These can include:

• Driving Under the Influence: Sadly, drugs and alcohol do play a role in many truck accidents. Commercial truck drivers are held to extremely strict standards. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, any individual with a blood alcohol content of .08 immediately has their license revoked for 30 days. When the driver is operating a truck, the legal limit is .04. The use of drugs or alcohol slows reactions and can cause serious accidents. When an accident is caused by a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, our truck accident attorney will gather evidence to prove the negligence of the driver.
• Distracted Driving: Because they spend extended time away from home and on the road, it is not surprising that truck drivers tend to check their cell phones and tablets frequently, both for personal and professional reasons.
• Tired Driving: It is common knowledge that commercial vehicle operators spend many hours on the road, often without necessary breaks. Financial incentives regarding delivery times often encourage drivers to “keep going” and not get the rest they so desperately need. Exhaustion leads to slower reaction times and sometimes drivers even fall asleep at the wheel.
• Speeding: Regardless of the vehicle you are driving, speeding can result in a lack of control. Trucks, because of their size and high center of gravity, are even harder to manage.
• Aggressive Driving: Incentives in the form of compensation encourage drivers to get from points A to B as quickly as possible. To accomplish this, some drivers tend to be rather aggressive on the road. They follow other vehicles too closely (tailgate), pass inappropriately, and even neglect to use their turn signals.
• Health Issues: Federal regulations outline health issues that would prohibit an individual from driving a truck. These include but are not limited to insulin use, epilepsy, and certain levels of hearing and vision loss. There are exemptions available, but they must be formally obtained.

Truck driver negligence is obvious in most of the above causes. Our Asheville personal injury lawyer knows how to prove it. Lakota Denton’s skill and experience are well-known among insurance company representatives.

When you have our team on your side, you will have a strong advocate who is a skillful negotiator and, when necessary, a strategic litigator.