Truck Accident Cases

Throughout the entirety of the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is impossible to avoid sharing the road with large commercial trucks, including tractor-trailers, construction vehicles, and even dump trucks.  When there is a collision between a large truck and another, much smaller, motor vehicle, the resulting injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle often are horrific.  It is because of the significant size and weight disparity between a commercial truck, which could weigh 80,000 pounds, and a passage vehicle weighing a few thousand.  The impact forces are far greater on the passenger vehicle occupants.  If the accident was caused by the negligence of the truck driver or trucking company, then it is crucial to holding these parties responsible.

A person who has been injured in an accident involving a large truck may suffer from the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
• Paralysis as the result of spinal injuries;
• Broken or fractured bones;
• Limb amputations;
• Crush injuries, including extensive organ and nerve damage;
• Burn injuries from vehicle fires;
• Chemical burns from the spillage of caustic substances from a tanker truck;
• Permanent disfigurement; and

There are many reasons why an accident between a truck and a passenger vehicle that should be preventable takes place.  The following are some of the more common causes and types of large truck accidents:

• An overloaded trailer causes the driver to lose control of the truck, causing a rollover or jackknife accident;
• Improperly secured cargo shifts during transport, leading to driver loss of control or debris spilling into the roadway;
• An improperly trained driver fails to react to changing road conditions appropriately;
• A distracted driver changes lanes into a vehicle already in that lane, leading to a horrific underride accident;
• A driver fails to check his or her blind spots for the presence of other vehicles, or even pedestrians adequately
• A speeding driver fails to brake in time to avoid a collision with slowed or stopped traffic;
• A driver fails to adjust to changing weather conditions;
• A driver operates a large truck under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• A driver does not comply with the federal hours-of-service regulations, leading to fatigued driving; or
• A trucking company does not maintain a large truck in a safe manner, resulting in faulty brakes, tire blowouts, loss of steering, or other serious problems that would have been avoided if the company adhered to a reasonable maintenance schedule.

If you have been injured, or a loved one has been killed in an accident involving a large truck, it is imperative to retain the right skilled Virginia Truck Accident Attorney immediately.  It is especially important in truck accident cases because the large trucking companies have investigators and attorneys who get to work for them within hours of an accident, in some cases.  There also is a risk of evidence disappearing, either from the scene of the accident or from the records of the trucking company if a spoliation letter is not sent quickly enough, which directs a party to preserve evidence.

It is important to take immediate legal action to recover compensation for medical expenses, the past, present, and future, as well as lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, and miscellaneous expenses.  Additional compensation may be sought in a wrongful death action.  Working with a dedicated and experienced Virginia personal injury attorney is critical to getting the help that is necessary to move forward with a devastating truck accident injury.