Gainesville, VA Truck Accident Lawyers
Gainesville, Virginia is a fast-growing suburb of DC. The traffic here includes not just commuters who live in Gainesville and work in town, but also truckers who bring the goods to our stores along Linton Hall Rd.
Whether you’ve been run off the road by a tractor-trailer on rt. 66 or struck from behind by an out-of-control semi on Lee Hwy, you can trust the team at Olmstead & Olmstead to help you pursue full and fair compensation. Call us at 703-361-1555 to set up a consultation now.
Truck Accidents in Virginia
In the vast majority of cases, the driver of the truck was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. Errors that led to accidents include:
- Improper lane changes
- Following too closely
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Improper turns
- Causing a crash while trying to avoid another collision
- Failure to yield
While collisions happen in every part of the state, several were clustered in the same region as Gainesville. These crashes took place on major highways like I-66, I-81, and I-95.
Types of Truck Collisions
The type of truck crash you’re involved in may determine the type of injuries you suffer and the severity of the overall accident. Some of the most common types of collisions include:
- Rear-end crashes: While rear-end crashes aren’t automatically catastrophic when they involve two passenger vehicles, they can be fatal when tractor-trailers are involved. The sheer size of a truck means that a rear-end crash may leave a passenger vehicle completely crushed.
- Rollovers: Rollovers are much more common amongst tractor-trailers than passenger vehicles, thanks to the higher center of gravity that trucks have. When a truck driver turns too quickly or at too sharp of an angle, the truck may roll over.
- Jackknife: When a truck driver turns or brakes too quickly, the trailer part of the truck can swing out from the tractor. This causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle and may cause the truck to skid completely out of control.
- Head-on collisions: This type of crash is likely to lead to catastrophic or severe injuries. Even at low speeds, a tractor-trailer is large enough to roll over or crush a smaller vehicle.
- T-bone: T-bone collisions are most common at intersections. If the driver of a large truck misses a stop sign or red traffic light, they may cause a T-bone crash that leaves occupants of the other vehicle dead or seriously injured. While the worst outcomes are generally reserved for those on the side hit directly by the truck, everyone in the vehicle is at serious risk.
- Wide turn accidents: Truck drivers may try to account for tight right turns by swinging left and then turning right. If they cross the center line during the turn, they may strike other vehicles. If there is a vehicle on their right when they attempt to turn, that vehicle may become crushed during the turn.
- Sideswipe: Improper or unsafe lane changes can lead to sideswipe accidents. While these collisions aren’t as deadly as other types of truck crashes, they can still cause injuries and significant property damage.
Evidence Used in Truck Accident Claims
When compared to crashes involving passenger vehicles, truck collisions involve an enormous amount of evidence. The truck driving industry is heavily regulated at the state and federal levels, and that means everything is documented. This can be helpful to your Gainesville truck accident attorney when it comes to investigating your claim.
Evidence that can be used to support your personal injury claim includes:
- Damage to both vehicles as documented by police officers, photos, and video footage
- Medical records and diagnostic test results showing the extent of all related injuries
- Proof of other property damage, such as damage to the median, rail guards, and road signs
- Logbook documenting the driver’s breaks, rest stops, and days off
- The truck’s black box, which contains information about fast braking, sudden stops, swerves, and other types of reckless driving
- Repair information that may indicate when the vehicle was last inspected and repaired
- Truck driver’s driving history that may have information on a driver’s previous tickets and citations
How Olmstead & Olmstead Can Help You
At Olmstead & Olmstead, we fight hard to help truck accident victims get the compensation they deserve. If you were struck on the side while driving out to Manassas National Battlefield Park or preparing for a day on Lake Manassas, we can help you investigate and pursue the compensation you deserve.
You can expect the other involved parties to push back against any evidence pointing to their liability. No one wants to be on the hook for a crash that causes hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That’s exactly why you need a truck accident lawyer. Our only goal is to uncover the truth and use it to get you full and fair compensation.
Once we’ve figured out who’s liable for your injuries, we’ll go after the insurance company for a fair settlement. By building the strongest case we can, we will put them in a position where they are forced to negotiate in good faith. If we are unable to secure what you deserve during negotiations, we will go one step further and take your case to court.
Reach Out Today and Fight for the Compensation You Deserve
Evidence is crucial in a truck accident claim. The sooner you contact our team, the sooner we can start gathering evidence and investigating your accident. Set up a consultation with our team right now by calling Olmstead & Olmstead at 703-361-1555 or contacting us online.