Truck Accident Attorneys in Manassas, Virginia
Every 16 minutes someone in this country is seriously injured or killed in a truck accident. The frequency and severity of accidents involving tractor trailers, semi-trucks, and large commercial vehicles make having the best available legal representation paramount for victims of these tragic events.
At the law offices of Olmstead & Olmstead, P.C., we work hard to protect the rights of clients who have been involved in Virginia truck accidents and have suffered serious personal injury. Our experienced Virginia personal injury attorneys understand the complex legal issues involved in these cases and will work diligently to represent your interests.
Truck Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 4,000 people were killed and 116,000 injured in large truck crashes in the U.S. in 2015 alone. This was a 4% increase over the prior year. Of those fatalities and injuries, 74% were occupants of other vehicles, not of the commercial trucks.
Because of its location on the east coast, Virginia has a large number of trucks bringing commerce into and through the state. In just the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are approximately 17,000 people injured and 150 people killed each year in truck accidents.
Types and Causes of Virginia Truck Accidents
Sharing the road with large commercial trucks is an inevitability for Virginia drivers. While many of these trucks are well-maintained and driven by conscientious drivers, this isn’t always the case. Because of the nature of these vehicles and the industry itself, trucks pose particular accident risks. Some of the common types of truck accidents include:
- Rollover Accidents happen when a truck tips over onto its side.
- Jack-knife Accidents are a common accident among trucks and occur when the truck loses traction and begins a sideways slide into other vehicles.
- Head-on Collisions can have devastating consequences due to the size and power of a large truck.
- Underride Accidents happen when a car becomes trapped underneath a tractor trailer.
- Blind Spot Accidents are also called “no zone” accidents and occur when a truck makes a maneuver without noticing vehicles in its blind spot.
The causes of these accidents vary, but a large majority are due to due driver negligence. This might be in the form of distracted driving, DUI, reckless driving, or speeding. Other causes are overloaded or improperly loaded freight and mechanical failure.
Serious Injuries and Damages From Truck Crashes
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs., have massive blind spots, and limited maneuverability. If these machines sound like an accident waiting to happen, you’re right. When not handled with the utmost care and training, the results of a truck accident can be catastrophic.
Victims of truck accidents can suffer from extreme injuries and even death. Trucks are multi-ton vehicles that can cause much more damage than a standard motor vehicle. Serious injuries resulting from these accidents include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, severe burns, and traumatic brain injury. An accident victim may need a lifetime of medical care and could suffer permanent impairment from the crash.
In addition to the cost of medical care, trucking accidents can result in damages that include lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation expenses. A skilled Virginia personal injury attorney can help you and your family in pursuing the responsible party for these damages.
Who is Responsible for a Virginia Truck Accident?
The trucking industry is heavily regulated due to the inherent dangers of having these massive machines on the highway. Interstate commerce in this country may rely on 18 wheelers and semi-trucks, but these vehicles are proportionately larger than anything else in their path and pose a significant danger.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is largely responsible for regulating the commercial trucking industry. Other regulations might come from the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, and other state and local agencies.
Not only are trucks that provide interstate commerce required to hold significant levels of insurance, but there are also regulations for trucking companies and drivers. Truckers must log the hours that they drive and take mandatory rest breaks. Loads that are carried must also be appropriate and properly secured. Many of the regulations that are in place today are a result of past personal injury cases resulting from deadly truck accidents.
While many of these trucking companies and their drivers do everything they can to stay safe on the road, the reality is that not everyone exercises the same degree of care, which can put innocent motorists and pedestrians in harm’s way. When a driver exceeds their hours of service restrictions, drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs, doesn’t properly maintain their vehicle, or doesn’t follow the rules of the road, the risk of a dangerous accident increases.
The issue of negligence in Virginia truck accidents can be complicated because of the nature of the industry. While the truck driver may be at fault in the accident, they may not be the only party to blame for a serious accident. Other potential defendants might include the trucking company, truck maintenance company, parts manufacturers, and freight loaders.
Proving liability in one of these accidents is complex because evidence of wrongdoing might quickly disappear for a variety of reasons. This is just one of the reasons why it’s so important to have an experienced and aggressive Virginia truck crash attorney on your side as quickly as possible.
Benefits of Hiring a Skilled Virginia Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured in a Virginia trucking accident, you may have grounds to pursue compensation for your losses. Our team of Virginia truck accident attorneys has years of experience in helping truck accident victims and holding responsible parties accountable. We will thoroughly investigate your case, obtain documentation from the other side, and work tirelessly to recover your losses. Our Virginia personal injury attorneys work with truck accident experts who specialize in securing evidence to support your claim for damages.
Time is not a luxury in these cases as you only have two years from the accident date to file your claim. We recommend reaching out to us about your case immediately. Contact the experienced Virginia truck accident attorneys at Olmstead & Olmstead at (703) 361-1555 or online to schedule a consultation today.
