Mattise & Kelly P.C

Trucking accidents are the leading cause of death and serious bodily injury on the highways of the United States. Compare the size of a tractor trailer with the average automobile and its easy to see why.

Tractor trailer accidents are often caused by driver error, including inexperience and, very often, driver fatigue. However they also may be caused by improper maintenance.

The trucking industry is regulated by a multitude of federal and state regulations concerning such things as vehicle maintenance, driver training, driver working hours and mandated driver rest periods. To be properly represented in a trucking accident case, you need a skilled lawyer who knows where to search in the records and regulations for the possible underlying cause of your accident.

Often, the services and testimony of a trucking expert or an accident reconstructionist are necessary to prove a case. A trucking expert is someone who has worked in the industry, is familiar with the regulations, equipment, records and practices, and can use his or her expertise to determine if safety regulations were violated. An accident reconstructionist is typically an engineer or former police officer trained in reconstruction, who will review the existing physical and factual data to recreate the sequence of events which led to the accident. Again, a skilled lawyer is necessary to engage the services of the right experts and to fully develop their testimony at time of trial.

Your attorney may also need to work with other experts, such as physicians, economists, or vocational witnesses, to develop the entire picture of your injury and resulting damages, so that a jury can properly understand the case and award just compensation.

If you have any questions concerning trucking accidents, contact us.