Birmingham Truck Accident Lawyer

 Henry C. Dailey has represented injured people in Alabama since 1987, including victims of serious automobile and commercial truck accidents.  Serious cases may require investigation of the truck driver, trucking company, commercial insurance coverage, vehicle maintenance, electronic information and other evidence that may help establish how the collision occurred and who is responsible.

  Henry C. Dailey brings decades of Alabama personal injury and trial experience to the representation of injured clients.

Our approach is straightforward: investigate the accident, preserve important evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, document the client's injuries and financial losses, and prepare the case for the best result supported by the evidence and Alabama law.

A tractor-trailer may be owned by one company, operated by another company, and driven by an employee or independent contractor. Cargo may have been loaded by another business, and maintenance may have been performed by still another company.

Commercial trucks can also generate electronic information, driver records, maintenance records, inspection records, dispatch information and other evidence that may become important in determining how an accident occurred.

For these reasons, investigating a serious 18-wheeler accident may involve considerably more than determining which driver received a traffic citation.

Responsibility depends upon the facts and evidence in each case. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company or motor carrier
• The owner of the tractor or trailer
• An employer
• A company responsible for loading or securing cargo
• A maintenance or repair company
• A manufacturer when defective equipment contributed to the accident
• Another driver or company whose conduct contributed to the collision

Identifying potentially responsible parties can also be important when determining what insurance coverage may be available.

 Mechanical failures can contribute to serious commercial truck accidents. Depending upon the circumstances, an investigation may examine the truck's brakes, tires, steering system, lights, coupling equipment and other safety-related components.

  Maintenance and inspection records may help determine whether a mechanical problem existed before the collision and whether it should have been discovered or repaired.

 If defective equipment contributed to an accident, potentially responsible parties may include the trucking company, vehicle owner, maintenance or repair provider, or—in an appropriate case—the manufacturer or seller of a defective component.

    Determining responsibility requires evidence showing what failed, why it failed, and whether that failure contributed to the collision. 

 Driver fatigue can impair a commercial driver's attention, reaction time and ability to safely operate a large truck.

 Federal hours-of-service regulations generally limit how long covered commercial drivers may drive and remain on duty. Depending upon the circumstances of an accident, a truck driver's electronic logging device (ELD) records, driving logs, dispatch records, fuel receipts and other records may help determine how long the driver had been driving or working before a collision.

  An investigation may also examine whether the driver or motor carrier complied with applicable hours-of-service requirements and whether fatigue contributed to the accident.

Preserving these records can be important because some trucking evidence may not remain available indefinitely.

Evidence can be especially important when the cause of a commercial truck accident is disputed. Depending upon the circumstances, an investigation may include:

• Police crash reports
• Photographs and video of the accident scene
• Witness statements
• Electronic logging device (ELD) records
• Driver qualification and training records
• Hours-of-service records
• Dispatch and trip records
• Vehicle inspection records
• Maintenance and repair records
• Brake and tire information
• Cargo and loading records
• Available electronic information from the truck
• Dash-camera or surveillance video
• Medical records documenting the injuries

Not every category of evidence exists or is relevant in every accident. The evidence needed depends upon how the collision occurred and the issues in dispute.

When appropriate, prompt action can be taken to request preservation of evidence relevant to the collision.

Commercial drivers are subject to drug and alcohol testing requirements under certain circumstances. When impairment may have contributed to a collision, drug or alcohol testing records and other evidence can become relevant to the investigation.

Depending upon the circumstances, an investigation may examine whether the driver was impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, or other substances that affected the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle.

The existence of a positive test does not by itself answer every question concerning legal responsibility. The evidence must be evaluated to determine whether impairment contributed to the collision.

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Because of the size and weight of commercial trucks, collisions involving 18-wheelers and passenger vehicles can result in serious injuries.
Injuries may include:
 

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Knee and leg injuries
• Internal injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Permanent physical impairment
 

Some injuries are immediately apparent, while others may require diagnostic testing, specialist evaluation, surgery, rehabilitation or continuing medical treatment before their full extent is understood.

Documenting the nature of the injury, medical treatment, physical limitations and long-term prognosis can be important when evaluating an Alabama truck accident claim.

Injured in an Alabama Truck Accident? 

If you were injured in an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer or commercial vehicle accident, contact Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm to discuss your legal options. 

FREE CONSULTATION — CALL 205-995-2412 

No Attorney Fee Unless We Recover Compensation for You 

REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION 

What Compensation May Be Available After an Alabama Truck Accident? 

A serious truck accident can create substantial financial and personal losses. The compensation legally available depends upon the facts of the individual case, the nature of the injuries and Alabama law.

Depending upon the circumstances, an injured person may potentially seek compensation for:
 

• Past medical expenses
• Reasonably necessary future medical expenses
• Lost wages and income
• Loss of earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Permanent injury or impairment
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Other damages recoverable under Alabama law
 

In serious injury cases, evaluating future medical needs and the long-term effect of the injury on employment and daily activities can be particularly important.
There is no reliable formula or online calculator that can determine the value of every Alabama truck accident claim. The value of a claim should be evaluated using the evidence and circumstances of the individual case.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Birmingham?
 

Your health should come first. Seek appropriate medical attention for your injuries. When reasonably possible, there are also steps you can take to preserve information that may later become important to an insurance claim or lawsuit.
 

• Report the accident and obtain the police crash report information.
• Photograph the vehicles, accident scene and visible injuries when reasonably possible.
• Obtain names and contact information for witnesses.
• Keep documents provided by police, insurance companies and medical providers.
• Follow your medical providers' instructions and keep records of your treatment.
• Document time missed from work and lost income.
• Preserve photographs, videos and other information relating to the collision.
• Avoid destroying or altering potentially relevant evidence.
• Consider obtaining legal advice before resolving a serious injury claim.
 

Trucking companies and their insurers may begin investigating a serious collision quickly. Evidence such as video, electronic records, vehicle information and other records may become important if responsibility for the accident is disputed.
You should not assume that an insurance company's initial evaluation or settlement offer represents the full value of your injury claim. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama Truck Accidents
 

Not every accident requires an attorney. Legal representation may be particularly useful when injuries are serious, liability is disputed, substantial medical expenses or lost income are involved, multiple parties may be responsible, or commercial trucking evidence needs to be investigated and preserved.
 

Responsibility depends upon the evidence and circumstances of the collision. Potentially responsible parties may include the truck driver, motor carrier, vehicle owner, employer, cargo-loading company, maintenance provider, manufacturer or another person or company whose conduct contributed to the accident.
 

An insurance company may investigate the accident and request information or a statement. Before resolving a serious personal injury claim or providing information that could affect your rights, you may want to obtain legal advice concerning your particular circumstances.
 

Alabama law concerning fault can significantly affect a personal injury claim. Allegations of fault should be evaluated using the available evidence and applicable Alabama law rather than accepted simply because an insurance company or another driver makes the allegation.
 

There is no reliable formula for determining the value of every truck accident claim. Important factors can include how the accident occurred, the severity and duration of the injuries, medical expenses, future medical needs, lost income, permanent impairment, pain and suffering, available insurance coverage and other evidence.  During a free consultation, we can discuss the factors that may affect the value of your individual claim. 

Alabama generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from a motor vehicle accident. In many cases, this means a lawsuit must be filed within two years after the accident. However, different deadlines or exceptions may apply depending upon the facts, parties involved and nature of the claim.

There is also a practical reason not to delay. Evidence such as video, electronic logging information, vehicle data and other records may become more difficult to locate or preserve over time.
 

Lost income may potentially be part of an injury claim when legally recoverable and supported by appropriate evidence. Medical restrictions, employer verification, wage records, tax records and other documentation may be important in establishing the amount and duration of the loss.
 

The firm offers a free consultation concerning personal injury cases. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Henry C. Dailey has represented injured people in Alabama since 1987.

His practice focuses on representing people injured through the negligence or wrongful conduct of others, including victims of serious automobile, 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle accidents.

Henry C. Dailey brings decades of Alabama legal and trial experience to the investigation, preparation and resolution of personal injury claims.
If you have been injured in a commercial truck accident, you can contact Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm to discuss the circumstances of your case.
 

Written and reviewed by Henry C. Dailey
Alabama Personal Injury Attorney
Last reviewed: August 2026

 LEARN MORE ABOUT HENRY C. DAILEY
 

Talk With a Birmingham Truck Accident Attorney 

If you or someone you love has been injured in an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer or commercial truck accident in Birmingham or elsewhere in Alabama, contact Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm to discuss your legal options.

Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm
2217 Cahaba Valley Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35242

FREE CONSULTATION — CALL 205-995-2412

NO ATTORNEY FEE UNLESS WE RECOVER COMPENSATION FOR YOU

 REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION 

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and the application of Alabama and federal law depends upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case.

Past results do not guarantee a particular outcome in any future case. Viewing this website or contacting Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.