Truck Accident Attorney in Charlottesville
Truck accidents injure hundreds of people in Virginia every year — and people in the Charlottesville area aren’t immune. Because semi-trucks are much bigger and heavier than passenger vehicles, truck accident victims frequently suffer devastating injuries. On top of this, they have to deal with the high cost of medical care and their lost wages while they heal from the crash.
We Have Some of the Best Truck Accident Lawyers in Charlottesville
Lichtenstein Law Group PLC wants to help if you have been injured in a semi-truck accident that wasn’t your fault. With almost 100 years of combined experience, our Charlottesville truck accident attorneys prepare for every case as if it will proceed to trial. Our aggressive, client-focused approach has helped us recover significant compensation for truck accident victims.
Contact our Charlottesville office for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
What Are the Different Types of Truck Accidents That Can Occur?
Some of the common types of truck accidents in Charlottesville are:
- Head-on collisions – If a truck driver is impaired, distracted, speeding, driving aggressively, or fatigued, they might leave their lane and collide with an oncoming vehicle.
- Rear-end collisions – A truck driver who is speeding, not paying attention, tired, or impaired might slam into the back of a vehicle in front of them. Alternatively, if a truck driver stops too suddenly, it might cause another vehicle to strike it from behind.
- Sideswipe accidents – Semi-trucks have large blind spots on either side extending from the cab doors to the trailer. These blind spots can make it difficult for truck drivers to see other vehicles in their vicinity. If truck drivers aren’t careful when passing or merging, they could sideswipe another car next to them.
- T-Bone accidents – T-bone truck accidents often occur when a truck runs a red light, stop sign, or yield sign and collides with traffic moving in a different direction. This can happen if the truck driver is fatigued, distracted, impaired, or speeding.
What Are Some Causes of Truck Accidents?
Some of the most common causes of Charlottesville truck accidents include the following:
- Truck drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Not checking blind spots
- Mechanical defects
- Poor road conditions
- Bad weather
- Unsecured cargo
What Are the Most Common Types of Injuries in Charlottesville Truck Accidents?
A loaded semi-truck can be 10 to 20 times heavier than a passenger car. All that weight moving at high speed when it collides with a passenger vehicle can result in major injuries for truck accident victims. Don’t hesitate to contact a Charlottesville truck accident attorney. Such a collision could result in:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Crushed or amputated limbs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ injuries and bleeding
- Neck and back injuries
- Bone fractures
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Psychological distress
- Wrongful death
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Several different parties could be liable for a truck accident in Charlottesville, and there may be multiple parties who share fault for a single crash. A Charlottesville truck accident lawyer can help. The potentially responsible parties include the following:
- The truck driver – As the ones behind the wheel, truck drivers have the primary responsibility to avoid causing a crash. Common forms of truck driver negligence that can cause an accident include impaired driving, distracted driving, driving while fatigued, speeding, driving aggressively, and not checking blind spots.
- The trucking company – Trucking companies must monitor their drivers for potentially dangerous behavior, such as impaired driving or violating the rules regarding required driver breaks. If a trucking company failed to properly monitor its driver or hired a driver with a poor safety record, it could be held accountable for an accident.
- Truck and parts manufacturers – The companies that manufacture trucks or the parts used in them can be held liable for a crash if a design or manufacturing defect caused it.
- Maintenance crews – Trucks have rigorous maintenance schedules that must be followed to keep the vehicle in good working order. If a maintenance crew missed a worn part or didn’t properly make a repair, they can be found responsible for an accident.
- Cargo loaders – A truck’s cargo must be properly balanced and secured to minimize the chance of a rollover accident. If the cargo company’s negligence contributed to a truck accident, they could be held liable.
- Government agencies – Some truck accidents are caused by poorly maintained roads. In these cases, the government agency responsible for maintaining the road might be responsible for a crash.
What Kind of Damages Can Be Recovered in a Charlottesville Truck Accident Injury Lawsuit?
Some of the losses you can be compensated for after a truck accident that was someone else’s fault include the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earnings due to a disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lower quality of life
- Emotional distress
Is There a Time Limit to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident?
Virginia’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. However, you should contact an attorney soon after a truck accident so they can preserve as much evidence from the crash as possible. Hiring a truck accident lawyer will also likely help you recover more compensation for your injuries than you might if you tried to handle the case yourself.
What Is My Truck Accident Injury Lawsuit Worth?
The value of a truck accident claim is based on the extent of your injuries from the crash. The more severe your injuries are and the more money you have lost because of the accident, the more you can demand in compensation. To make sure you recover as much compensation as possible so your future is protected, hire an experienced truck accident lawyer.
Contact a Charlottesville Truck Accident Lawyer Now
The Charlottesville truck accident lawyers of Lichtenstein Law Group PLC know how devastating these crashes can be. We want to help you put your life back together. Contact our office today for a free case review to learn more about how we can help after a truck accident.