Truck Accident Attorney in Cave Spring, Va

Drivers in Cave Spring and throughout the Southwest County share the road daily with tractor-trailers. Unfortunately, due to the negligence of truck drivers, trucking companies, and others, these massive vehicles can be involved in collisions that lead to life-changing injuries and deaths.

One of the Best Truck Accident Lawyers in Cave Spring

At Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, our Cave Spring truck accident lawyers have fought — and won — many cases throughout Virginia on behalf of people who have been harmed or lost loved ones in these dangerous crashes. We know what it takes to seek just compensation in highly contentious tractor-trailer accident cases.

To discuss how we can help in your semi-truck accident case, contact us today for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney in Cave Spring, VA.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents?

Nearly 5,000 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in one recent year, the National Safety Council reports. A large truck is any medium- or heavy-duty truck — but not a bus or motor home — with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds. Nearly 1 in 10 fatal crashes in the U.S. involved a large truck.

As our truck accident attorneys have seen at Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, some of the most common causes of these trucking accidents include:

Speeding and aggressive driving, such as making dangerous passes
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications that can make it dangerous to operate machinery
Driving while overly fatigued, after too many hours on the road
Improper training and supervision of drivers
Careless loading of cargo, leading to shifts or spills
Negligent inspection and maintenance
Defective trucks and truck components

Are All Truck Accidents the Same?

Truck accidents can vary as much as other types of motor vehicle accidents. They can involve rear-ending, head-on, side-impact, and sideswipe collisions. However, because of their size, weight, and design, tractor-trailers tend to be involved in unique types of accidents, such as:

Jackknife accidents
Underride and override accidents
Wide-turn accidents
Blind spot crashes
Rollovers
Crashes involving hazardous material spills, which can affect nearby residents as much as other motorists

Not all truck accidents are the same. So, it is vital to work with a truck accident lawyer with experience investigating, analyzing, and litigating these cases.

How Do I Identify the ‘No Zone’ of a Truck?

For safety reasons, you should know how to identify the “no zones” of a truck that you may encounter on the road in Cave Spring. They are the four areas surrounding the truck, or “blind spots,” in which the truck driver can see no other vehicle. Those four areas are generally considered to be:

Front — Approximately 20 feet in front of the driver
Rear — Roughly 30 feet behind the tractor-trailer
Left — The lane directly left of the truck, near the cab area
Right — The two lanes directly to the right of the truck, with the blind spot starting at the cab

Unfortunately, even those who drive as safely as possible around trucks can suffer harm due to the negligence and other wrongdoing of others.

Are Truckers Required to Follow Additional Safety Regulations?

In addition to following the rules of the road that apply to all drivers — for instance, laws that prohibit speeding and tailgating — truckers and trucking companies must also comply with additional safety regulations such as those enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Those regulations address nearly every aspect of the trucking industry, such as:

Hours-of-service rules that limit the number of hours a trucker can spend on duty without a break or longer rest period
Regulations that require training and supervision as well as mandatory workplace drug and alcohol testing of drivers
Rules that make inspection and maintenance of vehicles mandatory
Specific rules that address how certain types of cargo, including hazardous materials, must be properly loaded, secured, and transported, and which limit the amount of cargo that can be carried
Requirements for keeping certain records, including driver logbooks and vehicle inspection and maintenance records
Rules that address how a trucker must safely pull off the road and warn other drivers if the truck should become disabled

Violations of these trucking regulations often cause tractor-trailer accidents. In turn, they may serve as grounds for holding truckers and trucking companies liable for the harm they cause.

Who May Be Held Liable for a Cave Spring Trucking Accident?

A trucking accident in Virginia often results in multiple parties being held liable for the physical, emotional, and financial damage they have caused. Those parties could include:

Truck driver
Trucking company
Truck owner
Shipping broker
Warehouse workers
Truck manufacturer
Truck mechanic
Federal, state, or local government agency

At Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, we thoroughly investigate the truck accident cases we handle and often consult with knowledgeable professionals in areas such as accident reconstruction and trucking safety to prepare our clients’ cases for settlement and, if necessary, trial.

What Compensation Is Available for My Truck Accident Injuries?

The amount of compensation available to people harmed in trucking accidents through no fault of their own can depend on many factors. Generally, in a truck accident lawsuit, the compensation available may include:

Past and future medical expenses
Loss of income and loss of future earning ability
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Punitive damages intended to punish and deter rather than compensate

If you have lost a loved one in a Cave Spring truck accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for the loss of support that they would have provided if not for the wrongdoing of another. Talk to one of our Cave Spring personal injury lawyers today.

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Filing My Trucking Accident Lawsuit?

Under the Virginia statute of limitations, you must file a lawsuit within two years after the date of your injuries in a truck accident, or else your claim can be barred. If you are pursuing a wrongful death action, you must file the lawsuit within two years from the date of your loved one’s death. Due to these time limits, it is crucial to consult with an attorney as early as possible after being harmed in a truck accident.

Get Help from an Experienced Cave Spring, VA, Trucking Accident Lawyer

At Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, we believe a meticulously prepared case makes the difference. If you were hurt in a Cave Spring truck accident, we will work tirelessly to pursue all compensation you are entitled to receive. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation.