Charlottesville Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents can cause devastating, life-altering injuries for victims, often leading to months or years of costly medical care. Such treatments can place a significant financial burden on both victims and their families.
When negligence on the part of commercial truck drivers, trucking companies, or others in the industry causes harm, the victims may be entitled to compensation for their losses from the accident-related injuries.
However, trucking insurers frequently resist paying victims, even when the claims are legitimate. Even if they acknowledge liability, they often employ tactics to pressure victims into accepting settlements to recover compensation that falls far short of covering the full extent of damages they have suffered.
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a commercial or semi-truck accident, seek the assistance of a Charlottesville truck accident lawyer. The experienced attorneys at Cantor Grana Buckner and Bucci can help you navigate the complexities of truck accident claims, dealing with trucking insurers, and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free consultation.
How Can a Charlottesville Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a crash involving a tractor-trailer (semi-truck), protect your rights by hiring an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Comprehensive And Timely Investigations
Attorneys with the law firm of Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci will send a team of investigators and experts to the crash scene and take steps to ensure the tractor-trailer, maintenance records, shipping records, cell phone records, logbooks, and other substantial evidence is neither lost nor destroyed.
Analyzing Evidence
Our lawyers will examine all evidence in your case to determine the cause of the truck accident and identify all parties who should be held responsible. In many cases, a truck accident is caused by violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. Our attorneys have a firm grasp of these trucking industry regulations and know the role they can play in your case.
Litigation
The parties involved in a truck accident often refuse to turn over important information such as driver records, logbooks, or maintenance records. Our lawyers can file all necessary motions to compel those negligent parties to comply with requests for information. We can also challenge any actions harmful to your case.
Fair Settlements
We aim to resolve your case as efficiently as possible while, at the same time, obtaining a maximum amount of compensation for you and your family. We will carefully prepare your truck accident claim for settlement discussions with all parties at fault in your crash.
Taking Your Case to Court
The skilled and experienced attorneys with Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci will take your case to court if necessary. They will be ready to file a lawsuit on your behalf and go to trial to seek fair compensation.
What should I do if I am involved in a truck accident?
Immediately dial 911 for emergency medical treatment, not only for your injuries but also for others who may need help. This will also alert law enforcement to begin the accident investigation. You can request a copy of the report later as evidence for your claim.
Photograph as much evidence as possible, including all the other vehicles involved, the accident site, your injuries, and any contributing factors like bad weather or hazards on the road. These photos will serve as crucial evidence.
Gather contact information from everyone involved in the accident and any witnesses. This includes names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Also, obtain the truck driver’s license number, insurance details, license plate number, and employer’s information.
Seek immediate medical attention if necessary, even if emergency personnel don’t transport you to the hospital. A comprehensive evaluation is necessary to identify any internal injuries; prompt treatment is essential.
Consult an experienced truck accident attorney without delay. Substantial evidence, such as the truck driver’s logs and vehicle data recorder, can vanish rapidly after an accident. Hiring a lawyer early on ensures that evidence is preserved and your rights are safeguarded.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Charlottesville
Various factors can cause trucking accidents in Charlottesville, and some common causes include:
Driver Distraction: Truck drivers are prohibited by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) from texting or using hand-held cell phones while driving. However, some still engage in distracted driving, which can be especially dangerous when handling a massive 18-wheeler.
Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers must follow strict hours-of-service rules to prevent them from driving longer than they should. Unfortunately, some drivers may falsify their driver logs and drive beyond the point of fatigue, putting the public at risk.
Failure to Perform Inspections: Professional truck drivers are responsible for conducting pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their vehicles. These inspections ensure that essential components like tires, brakes, lights, and engines work correctly before hitting the road.
Faulty Equipment: While driver error is a common cause of truck accidents, defective or incorrect parts, and equipment can also contribute to accidents. In such cases, the insurance company or manufacturer of the equipment may bear responsibility.
Poor Maintenance: Negligent mechanics who skip essential steps during repairs can lead to mechanical failures on the road. Proper maintenance is crucial to ensuring the safe operation of a truck.
Drugs and Alcohol: Truck drivers are held to a lower blood alcohol concentration threshold in Virginia than other drivers. Operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 or higher is prohibited. Despite this, some drivers may still operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol, posing significant risks.
A trucking company and truck driver need to prioritize safety and adhere to regulations to minimize the risk of accidents and ensure the safety of everyone on the road.
Common Truck Accident Injuries in Charlottesville
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Spinal and back injuries
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Internal injuries
- Whiplash
- Headaches
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Concussions
Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accident cases are usually more severe than car accident cases. A large truck can weigh up to 20 times more than an average passenger car, which means thousands of pounds of metal are involved in a collision. Often, these trucks travel at high speeds; combined with visibility issues, this is why truck accidents occur more frequently.
These accidents can have tragic consequences when combined with any dangerous materials a large truck may carry, from flammable materials to toxic chemicals.
Truck crashes take many forms, and the collision can reveal many things about who is at fault.
- Rollover accidents result in one or both vehicles being turned on their side; these are often the most severe. Top-heavy vehicles like semi-trucks are prone to these kinds of accidents, so there are particular signs for trucks to slow down on tight turns.
- Head-on accidents result from distracted or drunk driving and can have devastating consequences for the individuals involved.
- Jack-knife accidents are common in trucking and occur when a semi-truck trailer loses traction and slides toward the tractor; road conditions or negligent driving can push the truck into this shape. This action mirrors a pocket knife folding in, hence the name of the accident. Any vehicles caught in the truck’s way during this type of accident may face severe injuries due to the impending impact of both sides of the trailer and the car.
- Underride accidents occur when a small car becomes trapped underneath a semi-trailer truck. During these accidents, there are often few protections for the driver and passengers, and the accident can lead to extreme injuries, including brain injuries.
- Blindspot truck accidents or “no-zone” accidents occur when truck drivers change lanes and do not notice a car in their blind spot. Large vehicles have more significant blind spots, so there are many warnings on the rear end of trailers to keep other drivers out of them.
Given the weight and size differential, any truck crash involving a passenger vehicle and a heavy truck will dramatically affect the passenger vehicle.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Truck Accidents?
Driving tractor-trailers or large commercial trucks differs significantly from getting behind your family SUV wheel. Semi-truck vehicles can weigh 20 or 30 times as much as a standard passenger vehicle and take up much more space. As a result, they handle much differently than anything most of us have ever driven.
They are slower to accelerate, need more room to turn, and dramatically restrict visibility. They use equipment not found in passenger vehicles, such as air brakes and coupling devices.
Because driving commercial trucks is so different from driving passenger vehicles, commercial vehicle drivers must undergo specialized training and obtain commercial driver’s licenses to drive them legally.
Unfortunately, commercial truck drivers continue to make mistakes and drive carelessly despite these measures, often resulting in serious accidents.
Driver negligence leading to such accidents includes:
- Reckless driving.
- Driver fatigue.
- Impaired driving.
- Failure to yield.
- Following too closely.
- Improper turns.
- Failing to signal lane changes.
- Driving on the wrong side of the road.
What Kind of Damages Can Be Recovered in a Truck Accident Case?
As a truck accident victim, you may be suffering from extreme injuries. Trucks are large, multi-ton vehicles that cause significant damage in even minor car accidents. Unfortunately, victims in passenger vehicles can suffer serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and burn injuries.
Our trucking accident lawyers will hold the responsible party liable for any resulting injuries after the accident and the amount in damages, including:
- Loss of income if you were unable to work while recovering.
- Emergency care, including the cost of ambulance transportation.
- All reasonable medical expenses.
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish.
- Inconvenience.
Learn how Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci can help you when you schedule a free consultation. Call us for a no-obligation opportunity to get answers to your legal questions, including what you can expect from a truck accident case.
Contact a Charlottesville Trucking Accident Lawyer
During this challenging time, your primary focus should be on your recovery, not worrying about extra financial burdens. Let our team of experienced Charlottesville truck accident attorneys take care of your personal injury claim, allowing you to concentrate on healing. For a complimentary assessment of your case, contact the law firm of Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci. Our services extend beyond Charlottesville, covering personal injury cases all across Virginia.
