Mississippi Truck Accident Attorneys

Mississippi Truck Accident Attorneys

The economy in Mississippi and throughout the United States largely depends on the sale of goods and commercial trucks are needed to transport goods across the country so they can be sold. Whenever large, heavy trucks drive alongside smaller passenger vehicles, there is the potential for very serious accidents and injuries.

Mississippi Trucking Laws

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT)¹ is the state agency tasked with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement² throughout the state. MDOT enforces a wide variety of regulations on both the state and federal levels that involve the size and weight of trucks, the qualifications of commercial truck drivers, the actions of trucking companies, the maintenance and inspection of trucks, and many other matters. Compliance with regulations is critical to keeping motorists safe and many truck accidents happen because a Mississippi regulation was violated.

Common Kinds of Truck Accidents

Violations of law and other forms of negligence can lead to many different types of collisions involving commercial motor vehicles. The following are only some examples of common truck collisions:

• Jackknife – This occurs when the trailer folds like a jackknife to become perpendicular to the tractor and to the road.
• Rollover – Like other motor vehicles, truck trailers can tip over and fall onto their sides due to speeding, sharp turns, and more.
• Cargo spill – When a truck is in a collision, it is possible that the trailer will open and cargo will spill out, often causing additional damage and injuries.
• Rear-end – Whether a truck rear-ends a smaller car or vice versa, the results can be devastating due to the high clearance of the truck.

Causes of Truck Crashes

There are different parties that may be responsible for causing truck accidents and the following are examples of negligent acts by different parties that can result in truck crashes:

• Truck drivers – Driver error is a leading cause of crashes, including drunk driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and fatigued driving.
• Trucking companies – Companies can be negligent by hiring potentially dangerous drivers, allowing drivers to violate the law, failing to maintain and repair trucks, and more.
• Truck manufacturers – If a defective truck part causes an accident, the manufacturer of that part may be held liable.

Checklist After a Truck Accident

After a truck accident, you will likely be stressed and confused about what to do. The following are some step you can take to help increase your chances of financial recovery from any negligent parties:

• Go to the emergency department or doctor as soon as possible so that any injuries are documented in your medical records.
• Talk to police and tell them your version of events that led to the accident.
• Collect the names and contact information of witnesses.
• Keep records of how you feel and how your injuries are affecting your life.
• Call an experienced truck accident attorney.

Why Call a Truck Accident Attorney

It is important to call a lawyer with specific experience with truck accident cases because these cases can be so complex and can involve state and federal laws. Having the right Mississippi truck accident attorney can increase your chances of receiving compensation for all of your accident-related losses.

¹http://sp.mdot.ms.gov/Civil%20Rights/Pages/Regulations.aspx
²http://mdot.ms.gov/documents/Enforcement/Manuals/Commercial%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Manual.pdf