Trucking Accidents
Legal Support & Advocacy
Fighting against powerful trucking companies for injured victims
Get a free case review
At Donlon Brand, we specialize in representing individuals catastrophically injured in collisions with commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and 18-wheelers. Our attorneys understand the devastating impact these accidents have on victims and families, as well as the complex federal regulations and corporate structures that make these cases particularly challenging. We have the resources, experience, and determination to stand up to powerful trucking companies and their insurers.
What Are Trucking Accident Cases?
Trucking accident cases involve collisions with commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, delivery trucks, and other large commercial vehicles. These cases are fundamentally different from typical car accidents due to their severity, complex liability issues, and the specialized federal regulations governing the trucking industry.
The statistics are sobering: according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large truck crashes result in approximately 5,000 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries annually in the United States. The massive size disparity between commercial trucks (often weighing 80,000 pounds when fully loaded) and passenger vehicles (averaging 4,000 pounds) means these accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries or death.
What makes trucking accident litigation distinct is the web of responsible parties potentially liable for damages. Beyond the driver, liability may extend to the trucking company, vehicle owner, cargo loader, maintenance provider, or even the manufacturer of defective truck components. Additionally, commercial carriers are subject to extensive federal regulations governing hours of service, driver qualification, vehicle maintenance, and load securement—violations of which can establish negligence.
These cases require specialized legal knowledge, immediate investigation, and the resources to challenge powerful corporate defendants and their insurance companies, who often deploy rapid response teams to accident scenes within hours to protect their interests.
Common Examples of Trucking Accident Cases
Our firm regularly represents clients injured in:
Jackknife Accidents
When a truck’s trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab, often caused by improper braking or slippery conditions, creating a devastating “sweep” across multiple lanes.
Underride Collisions
Smaller vehicles sliding beneath a truck’s trailer, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or decapitation when the passenger compartment is crushed.
Rollover Crashes
Trucks overturning due to excessive speed on curves, improper loading, or evasive maneuvers, sometimes spilling hazardous cargo.
Override Accidents
Large trucks riding over smaller vehicles during rear-end collisions, crushing the passenger compartment.
Wide-Turn Incidents
Collisions occurring when trucks swing wide to make right turns, trapping vehicles in the “right turn squeeze” between the truck and curb.
Unsecured Cargo Accidents
Injuries caused by falling debris or shifting loads that cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
These cases demand immediate investigation, preservation of critical evidence like electronic logging devices (ELDs), and thorough knowledge of state and federal trucking regulations.
Trucking Accident Focus Areas
We provide specialized legal representation across all aspects of commercial trucking litigation:
Hours of Service Violations & Driver Fatigue
Our attorneys investigate trucking companies that push drivers beyond legal time limits or falsify logbooks. We represent victims of accidents caused by fatigued drivers operating beyond the federally mandated 11-hour driving limit or 14-hour workday. Our team uses electronic logging device data, toll receipts, fuel records, and delivery documents to expose hours of service violations.
Negligent Hiring & Supervision
We hold trucking companies accountable for putting dangerous drivers on the road. Our firm addresses cases involving inadequate background checks, failure to verify license credentials, hiring drivers with histories of safety violations, and inadequate training or supervision. We investigate whether companies ignored red flags in driver histories or failed to enforce safety policies.
Improper Maintenance & Equipment Failures
Our team pursues claims involving brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and other maintenance-related crashes. We investigate maintenance records, repair histories, and pre-trip inspection logs to identify negligent maintenance practices. Our attorneys work with mechanical experts to determine when poor maintenance directly contributed to accidents.
Dangerous Loading & Cargo Securement
We represent victims injured by shifting loads, falling cargo, or trucks rendered unstable by improper weight distribution. Our attorneys address violations of cargo securement regulations, overloading beyond legal weight limits, and negligence by third-party loading companies. We understand the complex regulations governing different types of cargo and load configurations.
Hazardous Materials Transportation
Our firm specializes in accidents involving tankers and hazardous materials carriers. We handle cases involving toxic spills, chemical exposure, fire, and explosion risks unique to hazmat transportation. Our attorneys navigate the additional federal regulations governing hazardous materials and the specialized insurance requirements for these carriers.
Drug & Alcohol Impairment
We pursue maximum compensation when trucking companies fail to enforce substance abuse policies or comply with mandatory testing requirements. Our team investigates whether companies properly implemented drug testing after accidents, during pre-employment screening, or in random programs as required by federal regulations.
Electronic Evidence & Data Systems
Our attorneys specialize in obtaining and analyzing critical electronic evidence from modern commercial trucks. We secure data from electronic logging devices (ELDs), engine control modules, GPS tracking systems, and onboard cameras before it can be altered or destroyed. Our technical experts extract valuable information about speed, braking patterns, and driver actions in the critical moments before a crash.
Broker & Shipper Liability
We identify all responsible parties in the shipping chain, including brokers who connect shippers with unsafe carriers. Our firm addresses negligent selection claims against brokers who hire companies with poor safety records or fail to verify appropriate insurance coverage. We understand the complex relationships between shippers, brokers, carriers, and independent contractors.
Insurance Coverage Disputes
Our team navigates the complicated insurance structures in the trucking industry, from primary liability policies to excess coverage. We handle cases involving multiple insurance layers, MCS-90 endorsements, and self-insured retention issues specific to the commercial transportation sector. Our attorneys identify all potential sources of compensation beyond minimum coverage requirements.
Need Help?
When you’re up against a powerful trucking company, you need an advocate with the resources to match their legal firepower.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Our trucking accident attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your rights, and show you how we can help level the playing field against corporate defendants.
Why Donlon Brand?
Specialized
Expertise
Thorough
Research
Proven
Results
Compassion
& Care
- Specialized Expertise
- Thorough Research
- Proven Results
- Compassionate Representation
Nick Brand
Partner
Melissa Donlon
Partner
