Big Rig Truck Accident Lawyer in Winchester
According to data from the Department of Transportation, there are an average of over 5,000 big rig truck accidents in Virginia every year. Truck accidents are particularly destructive due to their large size and weight. Injuries from an accident can leave victims in pain, unable to work, and saddled with heavy medical debt.
If you have been hurt in a commercial vehicle accident, contact the truck accident attorneys at Kendall Law Firm. We can investigate your case and pursue financial compensation for your injuries. Call us today to speak to a Winchester big rig truck accident attorney, and let us hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
How a Winchester Big Rig Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Truck accidents are much more complicated than typical car accidents because they usually involve a commercial entity and overlapping liability considerations. Additionally, big rig accidents might have aspects that intersect both state and federal regulations. Fortunately, you do not have to deal with these complexities yourself. Instead, an experienced Winchester truck accident lawyer from our firm can handle every aspect of pursuing your personal injury claim, including the following:
- Investigating the accident
- Finding and talking to eyewitnesses
- Obtaining police reports and medical documents
- Working with expert witnesses
- Calculating your losses to determine fair compensation
- Sending demand letters
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Initiating a lawsuit to assert your rights
Kendall Law Firm is a highly experienced big rig accident law firm with over three decades of client-focused service under our belts. We have recovered millions for our clients, including a $1.5 million victory in a commercial truck accident lawsuit. Here is what a satisfied client had to say about our work:
“I give the Kendall Law firm very high marks! The staff was helpful and friendly, and I was extremely satisfied with the final result.” – Tanya.
Common Causes of Big Rig Truck Accidents
Common causes of big rig truck accidents include:
- Distracted driving: Truck operators might be texting or distracted by trucking communications or infotainment systems.
- Speeding: Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are especially dangerous from big rig trucks. Driving above posted speed limits or driving too fast for road or weather conditions can increase the likelihood of semi truck accidents.
- Driving under the influence: Commercial drivers have a lower BAC limit than other drivers for operating under the influence. One or two drinks can put a truck driver well over the 0.04 percent limit.
- Improper training: The federal government regulates trucker training and certifications, but some companies may have unsafe or inadequate training procedures.
- Failing to enforce hours-of-service regulations: Trucking companies might force drivers to drive for too many consecutive hours or not give them enough time to rest, violating driver fatigue regulations.
- Neglecting fleet maintenance: Trucking companies are responsible for performing regular inspections and maintenance on their fleets. Maintenance crews may also cause damage through neglectful practices.
- Brake failures and tire blowouts: Trucks weigh tens of thousands of pounds, so brake failures and tire blowouts can cause catastrophic injuries.
- Steering and transmission malfunctions: Truck steering columns and transmissions may also fail, causing the driver to lose control during turns and on inclines.
- Cargo securement and shifting loads: Improperly loaded or secured cargo can cause the driver to lose control or for it to fall from the rig and strike nearby vehicles.
We can investigate your truck accident claim to determine who is responsible for it.
Who Is Responsible for Big Rig Truck Accidents?
Several parties can be liable for a truck accident, depending on whether their actions were a causal factor. In some big truck accident cases, multiple parties might share liability, allowing you to pursue each individually for compensation.
Truck Drivers
Truck drivers are responsible for any negligent operations of their rigs, which can include violating traffic laws or driving under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances. A truck driver’s negligence could include failing to pull over when they are tired, speeding, violating traffic rules, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as a few examples.
Trucking Companies
Trucking companies may also be liable for accidents that stem from poor or irresponsible management practices. For instance, if a trucking company failed to properly vet their employees and hired a driver with previous DUIs, the company could bear liability for negligent hiring practices. Similarly, a trucking company could be liable for resulting truck accident injuries if it failed to adhere to training requirements.
Third Parties
Other parties who contributed to the accident might also bear liability. For instance, trucking parts or truck manufacturers can be liable if accidents occur due to defective equipment. A loading company may share responsibility if improperly loaded cargo falls out of the truck and injures another. Construction crews can be at fault if the accident happened because they did not properly divert traffic around their work zone.
Financial Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
A big rig crash lawyer from Kendall Law Firm can help truck accident victims recover compensation for what they’ve suffered. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and your injuries, a big truck wreck lawyer can pursue money to pay for your:
- Medical bills, including emergency treatments, diagnostic work, hospital fees, prescription medications, rehabilitative services, and more
- Lost employment compensation, such as hourly pay/salary, overtime, bonuses, tips, commissions, vacations, and other perks
- Differences between your pre- and post-injury expected lifetime earnings
- Loss of financial support due to wrongful death
- Property damage repairs or replacement
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, quality-of-life reductions, and other noneconomic losses
Our attorneys can look beyond your current expenses to account for long-term changes to your earning potential and your need for ongoing care. Our goal is to be comprehensive in our calculations so that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses and have a secure financial foundation for your future.
Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys for Your Free Consultation
If you have suffered injuries in a truck accident, contact the big rig crash lawyers at Kendall Law Firm. We understand how difficult life after a serious truck crash can be and will work tirelessly to secure the financial relief and support you need. We can stand up to trucking and insurance companies and fight to balance the scales of justice again.
Contact us online or call today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Winchester big truck accident lawyer.