Fuel Truck Accident Lawyer

When a fuel truck gets into an accident, there are always serious consequences. The heavy trucks can easily cause severe injuries or deaths. In some major accidents, the fuel tanks can even ignite, spelling big trouble for anyone caught up in the accident.

An average of 1,300 tanker trucks rolls over each year, according to the NHTSA. In May 2019, a fuel truck crash in North Carolina caused over 1,000 gallons of gasoline to spill after the driver collided with a tractor-trailer. A Dec. 2018 fuel truck accident in Greensboro, N.C. led to a fiery explosion. A Georgia fuel truck accident in Sept. 2018 happened when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. In Florida, a collision with a gas station refueling truck led to a column of fire and one fatality in Oct. 2019.

When accidents like these injure or kill innocent accident victims, tremendous medical bills result. Families end up struggling to pay their bills while their loved ones recover, and they may even be forced to spend money on funeral and burial for an accident caused by no fault of their own.

In these situations, let a fuel truck accident lawyer from Auger & Auger represent you. We fight for the rights of accident victims and their families to seek full, fair compensation for all of their accident damages.

Call 800-559-5741 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation case review with an experienced fuel truck accident attorney today.

Potential Damages Available After a Collision with a Fuel Truck

Many states have an “at fault” system for recovering losses after an accident caused by someone else. These systems require accident victims to prove that someone else caused the accident by acting negligently. In exchange, the person who caused the accident has to pay for all of the victim’s losses, called “damages.”

Damages available after a fuel truck collision depend on how injured you were and what other financial losses were inflicted. They most often include money for:

Medical bills, past, and future
Lost wages
Out of pocket expenses related to treatment
Vehicle repairs
Property loss/damage
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress

In accident cases that have resulted in the death of a victim, their family can pursue a wrongful death case to obtain the following damages:

Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of companionship
Loss of lifetime income

Proving Who Was at Fault for Your Fuel Truck Accident

Your fuel truck accident lawyer will most likely use the legal concept of negligence to prove that someone else was at fault for your fuel truck collision.

All negligence cases have four main components:

The truck driver (or another defendant) had a Duty of Care to obey laws and regulations and generally exercise “ordinary care” as a “reasonable person” would

The defendant had a Breach in their duty of care, either by breaking a fuel truck transport rule or by generally failing to exercise reasonable care
The breach Directly Led to an Accident and Injury (Proximate Cause)
The injury led to Damages of a financial and non-financial nature, including the pain and suffering of the victim and their family

Your fuel truck collision lawyer team will use existing laws and past case histories to make a strong legal argument that can demonstrate negligence. They will pore through trucking regulations and other relevant state or federal laws. They will obtain testimony from seasoned professionals in the transportation compliance, medical, and economic fields. They will use any evidence available from the accident scene and transport logs and other documentation to build a strong case that the driver or their employer was somehow negligent.

These arguments are made with the idea that they could potentially stand up in court in front of a jury, encouraging insurers to offer a fair fuel truck accident settlement. If no reasonable settlement agreement can be reached, your attorney will discuss your options for taking your case to trial.

Types of Negligence That Can Cause a Fuel Truck Crash

There are many different reasons that a fuel truck might get into an accident. Some of the most common ones include:

Distracted driving — All drivers should always be focused on the road
Driving too fast for conditions — Large trucks require more space to brake, and they can also easily lose control in tight curves
Sudden maneuvers — Can easily cause fuel trucks to jackknife, rollover, or collide with nearby vehicles
Drug or alcohol use — Some truck drivers may abuse alcohol as well as illegal or over-the-counter drugs to “get through” shifts
Hours of service violations — The FMCSA and Federal DOT require truck drivers and employers to only allow a certain amount of driving per day and per week
Pressure to complete routes — Some driver employers and fleet contractors have unreasonable expectations that can prompt drivers to break road laws or violate regulations
Improper load — Too heavy of loads or loads that have been improperly secured are at risk of causing unexpected accidents
Poorly maintained brakes, tires, suspension, etc. — Failure to maintain a vehicle properly can be the fault of the fleet management, maintenance company, or others

Why You May Need a Fuel Truck Accident Lawyer

The companies that employ or contract fuel truck drivers use big name insurance companies that have deep pockets. When an accident occurs, these insurance companies want to do everything they can to reduce the value of a claim.

Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers provides you with the legal means to fight back against high-powered insurance lawyers. We have a proven history of winning cases for our clients. We vigorously research past cases similar to yours to uncover the optimal legal strategy. We help you assemble compelling medical and financial records that back up your claimed damages.

Most importantly, we provide you and your family peace of mind that comes with having a knowledgeable, experienced legal ally. You never pay for our services, either, unless we are able to recover compensation for you.

If you live in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina or Florida and have been hurt in a crash with a fuel tanker, call now.

Talk to a fuel truck collision lawyer for free when you schedule your no-obligation case review today. Simply call 800-559-5741 or contact us online to schedule your free appointment now.