Why Hire a Virginia Truck Accident Attorney?
Accidents involving commercial trucks or 18-wheelers are not like car accidents. These large trucks can do even greater damage than most highway accidents. A large truck traveling at a high speed among smaller vehicles is inherently dangerous, especially to a car’s driver and its passengers. Truck accident cases typically involve more severe injuries and pose legal problems and concerns not found in most car accident cases. Trucking accidents can leave victims with catastrophic injuries such as brain damage, paralysis or severe, disfiguring burns or even death. It is important to contact a Virginia accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. The claims process can be stressful and difficult to navigate, especially when you are injured or caring for a love one who has been injured in a truck accident. Insurance companies are in business to pay out as little as possible for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other compensable expenses associated with your accident and recovery. But a Virginia truck accident lawyer can help ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
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How Common Are Truck Accidents?
Unfortunately, truck accidents happen frequently in in Virginia. We contend with congested roadways, which can lead to reckless driver behavior. Approximately 4,000 people die each year nationwide in truck accidents. Over 50,000 are injured.
According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, there are more than 125,000 crashes in Virginia each year. From those crashes, more than 750 people are killed and more than 65,000 people are injured on Virginia’s highways each year.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
There are numerous reasons for truck accidents. Each truck accident is unique and fault depends on individual circumstances. But thousands of motorists and truck drivers are killed and injured in large trucking accidents primarily resulting from driver error and negligent maintenance by trucking companies. Here are several causes often play a role in Virginia truck accidents:
1. Inclement weather
Bad weather like rain, snow, and wind often play a role in truck accidents. Wet roadways and decreased visibility make driving large trucks especially hazardous.
2. Intoxication
Like distracted driving, driving while impaired plays a major role in truck accidents. These types of accidents are often serious and cause permanently disabling injury because they frequently occur at high speeds.
3. Driver fatigue
Driver fatigue is especially dangerous when we consider truck drivers, who often travel cross-country and work under tight deadlines. Drowsy driving accidents are on the rise as a whole.
- Unsafe vehicle operation or driver error
- Large, unstable loads or defective equipment
- Failure to maintain current inspection standards
- Inadequate truck driver training
- Improper load weight
What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accident Injury?
Truck accidents rarely lead to “minor” injuries. These are some of the more commonly reported injuries from truck accidents:
1. Head injuries
In serious truck accidents, victims may suffer from open or closed head injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). The side effects from these injuries can be permanently disabling and require a lifetime of care and assistance.
2. Neck, back, and spinal injuries
Truck accidently typically involve a lot of force at impact. Victims commonly report head and back injuries. Spinal injuries may include disc displacement, fractured vertebrae, or nerve damage. These injuries require immediate and ongoing medical attention.
3. Injuries to the face
Drivers often report mild or severe injuries to the face as the result of impact with another vehicle. Examples include broken or bruised cheekbones, broken noses, burns from airbag impact, and concussions.
4. Fractures
Broken bones are commonplace in both high and low impact collisions. Drivers and passengers may suffer broken bones in the wrists, collarbone, or extremities. Other injuries, such as dislocation and bone bruising may also occur.
5. Internal bleeding
If left untreated, internal bleeding can be devastating, leading to organ failure, sepsis, or death.
6. Mental injuries
Some injuries might not manifest until well after an accident. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression can seriously diminish quality of life.
I’ve Been in a Truck Accident. Now What?
Being in a truck accident is frightening. If you’ve been involved in an accident, take a deep breath and take the following actions:
- Make sure everyone is okay. In the event of injury, call 911.
- Call the police. You will need to file a police report to make a claim with your insurance company even if you just want to cover the repair of your own vehicle.
- Take photos of the scene. It’s important to have photo evidence of the damage to your vehicle, and if you have any visible injuries, you should document those as well.
- Provide an accurate statement to the police officer. It’s important to only give the facts when speaking to the police. If you are unsure about your injuries or the cause of the accident, say that you are unsure. It’s important that all records of your accident are accurate.
- Get Medical Attention. You may be in shock and unaware of any injuries following a crash. If you were in a high impact collision, you may be at risk for a concussion or other brain injury.
- Contact us for a free case evaluation. There is no obligation. If you retain us, we’ll help you file an insurance claim and advocate for you to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
How Much does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in Virginia?
We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no legal fees unless we recover money for you. If we are successful, then we take a percentage of the recovery. This way, our interests are aligned. Our goal is always to maximize your recovery. Additionally, we will evaluate your case for free, so do not hesitate to call us and ask us any questions you would like!
Broughton Injury Law focuses attention on personal injury. We can dedicate our wealth of experience and resources to your case. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you may feel you have limited options for paying your bills and keeping your family afloat. Our Virginia law firm is happy to guide you through the civil litigation process and help you receive compensation for damages. We help our clients get settlements to pay for past and future medical bills, lost wages, losses in earning capacity, and damages such as emotional anguish and pain and suffering.
We offer our undivided and personalized attention to all of our clients. If payment is a concern, we offer services on a contingency fee basis, which means you’ll only owe legal fees if we recover for you.
To learn more about how we can help, contact us to set up a free initial consultation.