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Tractor Trailer Accidents
Tractor Trailer Accidents
More than 3,500 fatal crashes involved large trucks in the United States in 2015. Beyond the fatalities, 83,000 accidents involving large trucks resulted in injuries that year. Not surprisingly, people in passenger vehicles often suffer serious injuries or death in collisions with 80,000-pound tractor-trailers.
Truck accident claims are complex cases involving federal regulations and often several potentially responsible people. Knowing the facts can help you make wise decisions if you or a loved one is injured by a truck.
What causes large truck accidents?
Truck drivers must be specially trained and take extra safety precautions because of the size, weight, longer stopping distances, and potentially hazardous cargoes of their large commercial trucks. Although some large truck collisions are caused by drivers of the other vehicles, most truck accidents are caused by the large trucks and the conduct of their drivers, which may include the following factors:
- Truck driver fatigue (despite federal regulations limiting the hours a driver can log)
- Truck equipment failure (particularly brake problems)
- Improper truck maintenance
- Distracted driving (operating mobile devices behind the wheel)
- Unsafe driving practices (such as speeding or following too closely
What should I do if I’m hit by a truck?
If you are involved in a collision with a large commercial truck, the first thing to do is call 911 for emergency medical attention, and report the accident to the police. Do not move your vehicle, unless it is in an unsafe place. Its position can help experts reconstruct what caused the crash. Cooperate with the police when they arrive, but do not give them unnecessary details. Do not talk to insurance company representatives, other than your own. Never give the other insurance company a statement in writing, by phone, or sign anything for them until you consult with an attorney. Get medical attention for your injuries immediately. Take down information from the other drivers involved, including their insurance company and how to contact them. If possible, take photos or record license plate numbers, so the driver can be located easily. Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene, and check for any surveillance cameras in the area if possible. Notify your insurance carrier of the accident. Then schedule a consultation with a skilled Virginia vehicle accident lawyer.
Get help proving negligence in a truck accident claim from an experienced Virginia trial attorney
Before filing a truck accident claim, you need to know how bad your injuries are, and who is responsible. The Six East Law Group can assess your injuries and thoroughly investigate your accident. If the truck driver or trucking company was at fault, we can obtain documentation from the other side, including the truck driver’s log book and the truck’s on-board data recorders, scale tickets, and bills of lading.
We handle truck accident cases on a contingency basis, which means we do not get paid until we recover compensation for you. We do not charge for consultations. If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in a collision with a large commercial truck, contact us or call us at (804) 355-8273 for a free consultation.
At the Six East Law Group each personal injury or wrongful death case is a unique matter and an individualized strategy will be developed for your case.
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