Manchester Coal Truck Accident Lawyers

Coal is the backbone of Clay County's history. But for the families driving on US-421 and the Hal Rogers Parkway, coal trucks are a constant, terrifying presence.

These aren't just standard semi-trucks. They are massive, heavy-haul machines often navigating narrow, winding roads like Horse Creek and Goose Creek. When a coal truck is overloaded to maximize profit, or when a driver is speeding to get "one more load" before the shift ends, the results are deadly.

At Freeman Childers, we respect the coal industry, but we do not tolerate negligence. We know the difference between an honest accident and a crash caused by greed. We know how to pull the scale tickets, check the maintenance logs, and prove that the company put money over your life.

The "Paid by the Ton" Danger

The root cause of most coal truck wrecks is simple: The Incentive. Many drivers and trucking companies are paid by the weight of the coal they deliver, not by the hour.

• The Result: This creates a deadly incentive to:

  1. Overload the Truck: Making the vehicle illegal and impossible to stop on steep grades.

  2. Speed: Racing back to the mine to get another load.

  3. Skip Maintenance: Ignoring bald tires or fading brakes to keep the truck on the road.

Why Coal Trucks Crash in Manchester

We investigate the specific mechanical failures common in these heavy vehicles:

• Brake Failure on Steep Grades: On roads like Big Creek or the descent into Manchester, heavy brakes can overheat and fail (brake fade). If the truck was overloaded, the brakes never stood a chance.

• Rollovers on Curves: Coal has a high center of gravity. If a driver takes a curve on KY-80 too fast, the load shifts, flipping the truck onto oncoming cars.

• Tire Blowouts: Coal roads are rough. Constant wear and tear lead to sudden blowouts that send 80,000-pound missiles swerving across the center line.

Who Are We Suing?

Liability in a coal truck crash is complex. It is rarely just the driver's fault.

• The Trucking Company: Did they pressure the driver to run illegal hours? Did they fail to fix reported brake issues?

• The Mine Operator: Did they knowingly load the truck beyond its legal weight limit?

• The Maintenance Shop: Did a third-party mechanic sign off on a truck that wasn't safe?

The Investigation: We Move Fast

Evidence in a coal truck case disappears quickly.

• The "Black Box" (ECM): Most modern trucks have a computer that records speed and braking data right before the crash. We download this immediately.

• Scale Tickets: We subpoena the mine and the delivery point to see exactly how much that truck weighed when it left the tipple.

• Driver Logs: We check if the driver was over their federal hours-of-service limit (fatigued driving).

Hit by a Coal Truck?

You are fighting a company with deep pockets and aggressive lawyers. You need a team that knows the industry. Call 606-528-1000 immediately.