The Birmingham truck accident lawyers at Fob James Law Firm represent people across the state of Alabama who have been injured in a semi-truck accident.
When your car collides with a commercial or semi-truck, the outcome can be devastating.
Our highly rated truck accident lawyers in Birmingham, AL are here to help.
The excessive weight and size of large trucks can leave a passenger vehicle a total loss.
The driver and any passengers can experience catastrophic or life-threatening injuries.
If you have been in an accident with a semi or big rig, you may have the right to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages.
If your accident occurred in or near Birmingham, a truck accident lawyer from the Fob James Law Firm can help.
We provide answers to your questions, explain your options, and do everything we can to recover the financial compensation you deserve.
For immediate assistance, please don’t hesitate to call our Birmingham truck accident injury firm at (205) 407-6009 or send us an online message.
Our Truck Accident Attorneys Are the Top Choice in Birmingham
For more than 40 years, the attorneys at Fob James Law Firm have been fighting for victims of trucking injuries across the country.
- We work closely with each of our clients, ensuring they receive personalized attention. With our firm, you will actually speak with your dedicated lawyer not an assistant.
- We move fast. We do not sit on cases. When we take your case we aggressively work your case from day one to ensure you get the compensation you deserve as soon as possible.
- We are not afraid to take your case to trial. As trial lawyers we love to litigate cases in courthouses across the country.
- We have obtained multiple seven figure settlements on behalf of our clients.
- We never charge fees up front. If we do not win your case you owe us nothing.
- We’ve got your back and have many 5 star reviews from clients we’ve helped in Birmingham.
Our case results and 5 star client testimonials speak for themselves. Call us today to schedule your free consultation and case review
Real-World Truck Accident Settlement
THE CASE: Successful in obtaining a $876,000 settlement for a client that suffered significant injuries after a disputed liability trucking accident. The accident happened when thick smoke from a semi-truck’s engine prevented other vehicles on the interstate from seeing that the semi-truck was stopped in the middle of the road. Attorney Fob James IV’s client’s vehicle collided into the rear of the truck. With experts Fob was able to argue that the trucking company had negligently maintained the truck, which caused it to stall on the interstate and emit thick smoke.
CASE RESULT: Pre-trial settlement of $876,000
Do You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer Near Birmingham, AL?
Yes, truck accident cases are highly complex. Trucking company insurance carriers are notorisouly difficult to deal with. You need an attorney to help preserve evidence and fight for your interest.
Forcing the trucking company and the insurer to go through your attorney will help hold the at-fault party or parties accountable.
Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys have the necessary resources for gathering evidence, hiring experts, and building a persuasive case.
At the Fob James Law Firm, we realize that no settlement—no matter how substantial—can undo the damage you suffered.
However, when we recover fair compensation for you, it sends a powerful message to others and helps make the roads safer for everyone.
Who is Liable for Your Birmingham Truck Accident Injuries?
On the Alabama roadways, truck drivers owe a duty of care to other drivers and the general public, including bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and others who share the road.
When a driver breaks the law or behaves carelessly, their recklessness or negligence places others at risk for harm.
If the negligent truck driver was working on behalf of a trucking company or another employer, the employer may also have liability for the resulting losses.
In some cases, faulty equipment or poor vehicle maintenance practices may contribute to a truck accident.
To recover compensation, you must establish fault to ensure the at-fault party is held liable for your injuries.
Unfortunately, Alabama law recognizes contributory negligence, which means your claim can be denied even if you are just 5% at-fault.
A Birmingham truck accident attorney understands how to investigate your semi-truck collision to identify fault and liability.
Your lawyer also understands how to negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to obtain a fair offer for settlement.
If the insurer won’t make a reasonable settlement offer, your Birmingham truck accident lawyer can file a civil lawsuit and fight for you in court.
What to Do After an Alabama Truck Accident
If you are involved in a commercial truck accident in Birmingham, get to a safe location well off the roadway. Then make sure you do the following:
- Call 911 to request the police and paramedics. This step is critical, even if you believe you were not injured.
- Use your smartphone to take as many photos as you can.
- Capture every angle of the scene and the vehicles involved.
- If witnesses are present, ask them to share with you any photos or videos they may have captured.
- Gather contact information for all witnesses and anyone involved in the crash.
- Photograph or write down all identifying numbers and marks on both the truck and trailer.
- Do not make any statements to anyone regarding fault, even if you believe you caused the accident.
- When you talk to the police, simply provide the facts as you recall them (your perceptions may not be an accurate represenation of what happened).
- Let the paramedics check you out on-scene, if possible.
- If you had passengers in your vehicle, make sure the paramedics evaluate them as well.
Get Medical Treatment As Soon As Possible
Whether or not you get checked out at the scene, visit the emergency room or a medical practitioner immediately afterward.
Some types of injuries, including whiplash and internal damage, may not be immediately obvious.
Having a full medical evaluation will ensure that you get the treatment you need and help establish the basis of your truck accident claim.
Contact a Birmingham Truck Accident Attorney
As soon as possible, contact a Birmingham, AL truck accident lawyer. The sooner your attorney can get started, the better.
Never provide any statements or sign any documents without consulting an attorney first.
Your lawyer can help protect and preserve critical evidence and begin building your case.
Your attorney can also help protect you from any attempts the insurance company might make to undermine your case.
Collect Evidence to Build a Strong Trucking Accident Case
To build a persuasive case, your lawyer will investigate your accident and preserve evidence that may be important to the case.
Unless there is a request to preserve evidence, trucking companies are only required to keep evidence for a certain period of time. This is one reason it is important to contact a trucking accident attorney as soon as possible.
Below are types of evidence our trucking lawyers investigate and preserve.
Driver Logs
The U.S. Department of Transportation restricts truck drivers to a maximum of 11 hours per day behind the wheel.
Truck drivers are also required to log their hours and miles on the road to ensure compliance.
Obtaining this data can help support your claim that driver fatigue caused or contributed to your accident.
However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under 49 CFR 395.8(k)(1) mandates that trucking companies keep driver logs and supporting documents for only six months.
To avoid spoliation of evidence, our truck accident attorneys send preservation letters to the trucking companies immediately after we are retained as counsel.
Maintenance and Inspection Records
Trucking companies must also maintain inspection, repair, and maintenance records for each semi-truck.
The trucking company is only required to keep maintence and inspection records for 12 months if the big-rig is under its control.
However, if the big-rig is no longer under their control, the truck company must mainain these records for six months.
Maintenance and inspection records demonstrate how the semi-truck was maintained and inspected and can potentially disclose problems with the equipment that caused or contributed to your accident.
If the semi-truck is repaired or scrapped after a wreck, important evidence may be lost.
For these reasons, our truck accident attorneys try to preserve maintenance and inspection records after a crash. We also request a physical examination of the truck in case it is repaired or scrapped.
Trucking Company Records
Trucking company safety records can help your attorney determine whether the carrier had prior violations or demonstrated negligence in the past.
Establishing a history of safety issues can help your attorney build a persuasive case.
Witness Statements
Obtaining statements from eyewitnesses can help support what actually happened during the collision and in the moments leading up to the crash.
Your attorney will want to talk to all witnesses as quickly as possible, while their memories of the events remain fresh in their minds.
Photographs and Videos of the Accident Scene
Photos of the accident scene and the aftermath are critical for building a persuasive claim.
If your attorney can obtain any video evidence, it can provide even more support for your case.
Truck Data Recorder
Today, most commercial trucks carry a data recording device onboard. This device is similar to the black boxes carried by planes.
If your attorney can obtain this data, it can provide support for any driver error or negligence, such as excessive speed.
Assembling evidence and relevant data as quickly as possible after the accident will help preserve critical evidence.
Your truck accident attorney has the ability to issue a legal notice to the trucking company and other parties, to compel them to preserve all pertinent evidence.
For immediate assistance, please send us a message or call our firm at (205) 407-6009 today.
How Do You File an Alabama Truck Accident Claim?
After obtaining the crash report, you can file a claim with the truck’s insurance carrier or file a lawsuit.
To recover compensation for your injuries and other damages, you must demonstrate that the driver or other at-fault party did not act with reasonable care and, as a result, you suffered injuries and other damages.
As simple as this sounds, recovering fair compensation for truck accident injuries poses multiple challenges.
Do not try to file an insurance claim on your own. Contact our truck accident attorneys for a free consultation.
How Long Do I Have To File A Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Alabama law provides a statute of limitations of two years for most truck accident lawsuits.
A statute of limitations is the deadline set by law for filing your lawsuit. A failure to file within the time-frame bars you from filing later. There are very few exceptions to this requirement.
A Birmingham truck accident attorney keeps track of these deadlines so you don’t miss your opportunity to pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Is the Value of Your Truck Accident Claim in Birmingham?
The value of your trucking claim will depend on the type and extent of your injuries.
Truck accidents can lead to catastrophic or life-threatening injuries, permanent disability, and disfigurement. These factors all influence the value of your claim.
Your truck accident attorney will assemble the necessary documentation to substantiate your case, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages,
- Care costs,
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs,
- Damage to your vehicle and personal property,
- Estimates of future medical bills,
- Estimates of future care costs,
- Estimates of future loss of income,
- Pain and suffering,
- Lost enjoyment of life, and
- Disability value
Experienced truck accident lawyers often use the opinions or testimony of medical experts, economic experts, and others who can help support the value of your claim.
Often, insurance companies attempt to negotiate an undervalued settlement soon after an accident, especially once they realize that your claim may be substantial.
A knowledgeable Birmingham truck accident attorney can protect your legal rights and ensure that you don’t fall victim to questionable actions of the insurance company.
Semi-Truck Accident Settlement Value Chart
This is mere speculation. Our best guess is that the average truck accident settlement in Birmingham is around $150,000.
Again, every trucking case is different so take these figures with a grain of salt:
| Severity of Crash and Injury | Case Value Range |
| Level 1 – Minor Injury | $25,000 – $100,000 |
| Level 2 – Medium Injury | $100,000 – $500,000 |
| Level 3 – Significant Injury | $500,000 – $2,000,000 |
| Level 4 – Catastrophic Injury or Death | $2,000,000 + |
Of course, the only way to truly determine what your settlement value might be is to consult a truck accident lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama.
How Are Truck Accidents Different from Other Vehicle Collisions?
Getting into an accident with a commercial truck or tractor-trailer generally poses a higher level of danger than a crash with another passenger vehicle for several reasons:
- The size and weight of tractor-trailers and semi-trucks can cause significant damage to smaller vehicles
- Truck drivers have limited abilities to brake and maneuver, making it difficult or impossible to avoid a collision
- Trucks pose a high risk of rollovers, especially on the interstate and at high speeds
- Many trucks carry cargo that is toxic or hazardous.
These and other factors have the potential to worsen an already dire collision.
When you get into an accident with another private motorist, you deal directly with the other party and their insurance company.
When your collision involves a commercial truck, you must deal with the truck driver, the trucking company, and possibly other parties such as the shipper—and the insurance carriers of each party.
The complexity of these legal claims can be exponentially worse than other types of accidents.
Building a persuasive case also poses more complex challenges for trucking accidents.
Determining and demonstrating which parties caused or contributed to the crash requires experience and resources.
You need an attorney who understands these complexities as well as the federal regulations that govern the trucking industry.
A Birmingham, Alabama truck accident attorney from the Fob James Law Firm will have the knowledge and experience to get the job done for you.
More Truck Accident Settlements We Have Obtained
THE CASE: Attorney Fob James, IV obtained a $150,000 settlement for a client that suffered soft tissue injuries after a truck sidewiped him on the interstate. The insurance company did not want to pay because they claimed Fob’s client swerved into the lane of the truck. With auto reconstruction experts, Fob was able to prove the truck caused the crash.
CASE RESULT: Pre-trial settlement of $150,000
Common Truck Accident Causes in Birmingham
Although many factors can lead to commercial trucking accidents, the majority of these collisions are preventable.
Drive Safe Alabama lists the following primary causes of truck accidents in Alabama:
- Improper lane changes or use,
- Failure to yield to right of way,
- Tailgating,
- Misjudging stopping distance,
- Defective equipment,
- Improper backing up,
- Improper turns,
- Excessive speed,
- Failure to maintain lane,
- Failure to heed traffic signals,
- Improper passing,
- Driver fatigue, and
- Driver impairment (drugs or alcohol).
Improper and imbalanced trailer loading are also common causes of commercial truck crashes.
Defective truck components and the failure to maintain tractor-trailers properly can also lead to unexpected equipment failure and devastating collisions.
Will the Insurance Company Offer a Settlement?
In most cases, our truck wreck attorneys can negotiate an acceptable settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
This gets a settlement check into your hand as quickly as possible and allows you to avoid the time and hassle of going to court.
In those instances when the insurance company will not negotiate in good faith, we will not hesitate to file a civil suit.
It is important to avoid talking with or providing a statement to any insurance company.
Insurers often request a recorded statement from you, as though it is a normal part of the claims process.
However, the insurance company can use any part of your statement against you, to minimize or undermine your claim.
The insurer may also approach you shortly after your accident and make you an undervalued settlement offer.
Never agree to any settlement or sign any documents until you discuss your options with an attorney.
Documenting your claim and damages thoroughly can take weeks.
If you accept a settlement now, before you know how serious your injuries are or how long you have to miss work, you could give up your rights to recover any additional compensation.
We can assist you in getting the medical treatment and other resources you need while we pursue your claim.
This allows you to focus on your health and well-being while our dedicated trucking injury legal team focuses on recovering the compensation you deserve.
Commercial Truck Accident Statistics
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) – 2025 Truck Accident Data
Thankfully, the number of fatal truck accidents in 2024 decreased compared to prior years. According to the FMCSA, 4,239 people were killed in 2024 truck crashes versus 4,723 in 2023. This was less than the number of fatalities in 2022, where 5,525 victims died in truck accidents.
As of Feburary 28, 2025, approximately 349 people have died in truck involved crashes this year. We hope the downward trend in fatalities continues in the coming years.
U.S. Department of Transportation – 2023 Truck Accident Data
According to the U.S. DOT, the number of traffic fatalities in large truck crashes decreased roughly 11% in 2023 compared to 2022. In 2023 there were 4,807 fatalities versus 5,417 in 2022.
For large truck crashes that resulted in injury, there were 76,550 injuries reported in 2022. In 2023, there were 74,001 injuries reported, a slight decrease.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – 2022 Truck Accident Data
According to the NHTSA, 5,936 people killed in 2022 truck accidents. This is a 2% increase from 5,821 fatalities in 2021.
There were 160,608 injuries from truck crashes in 2022. This is an increase from 2021, where there were 154,813 reported injuries.
Of the 5,936 fatalities that resulted in 2022, 70 percent of victims were occupants in other vehicles.
The NHTSA further reports that tractor-trailers, commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, and big rigs are involved in more than 563,000 U.S. accidents every year.
Compounding the frequency of tractor-trailer accidents, the NHTSA found that large truck drivers have the highest percentage of involvement in previous incidents of any other driver type.
In fact, 20.8 percent of truck drivers involved in a fatal accident was previously involved in a crash.
Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)
In Alabama, the data presents more of a concern. According to ALDOT, trucks were involved in 10,210 accidents in 2023 alone.
Those incidents resulted in 2,590 injuries and 134 fatalities. 16.4% of all truck related crashes in Alabama was caused by improper lane change.
More Alabama Truck Accident Statistics
The Best Truck Accident Lawyers in Birmingham, AL (picked by Fob James, IV)
“If my wife or one of my kids were injured in a trucking accident—and Fob James Law Firm could not handle—who would I hire to represent them? I would hire one of the attorneys listed in this blog.”
— Fob James, IV – Trial Lawyer
While we would be honored to represent you or a family member injured in a truck accident, if you do not choose us, we want to make sure you have the best representation possible.
For this reason, Fob James, IV selected, who in his opinion, are the 5 best truck accident attorneys in Birmingham.
Contact a Birmingham Truck Accident Attorney Near Me
After a serious semi-truck accident, it’s normal to feel fear and confusion in addition to your pain. You may have no idea what to do or where to turn.
However, your next steps can significantly influence the outcome of your case.
Don’t take any chances with your future or risk your legal right to recover compensation.
Talking to an experienced truck accident attorney in Alabama can help you make the right choices.
The personal injury attorneys of the Fob James Law Firm will aggressively fight for you and your future. We offer a free consultation, and we never collect any legal fees until we recover compensation for you.
Our five star reviews speak for themselves. Below are some of the awards and recognition our truck accident lawyers are honored to have received:
Contact us online or call our firm at (205) 407-6009 today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation with one of our top-rated truck accident lawyers in Birmingham, AL.