Truck Accident Attorney Serving in Staunton

If you or your loved one has been severely injured in a truck accident in Staunton, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills and loss of income if the truck caused the crash. Truck drivers and the companies that employ them may be financially liable for accidents caused by their negligence. When a truck driver drives carelessly and causes harm to others, the driver should be held accountable.

Kendall Law Firm has extensive experience representing clients injured in truck accidents and other motor vehicle accidents. With more than three decades of experience in personal injury law, Attorney David Kendall pursues fair compensation for each client that the firm represents.

If you find yourself facing mounting medical bills due to a truck accident, do not hesitate to reach out to us at (866) 590-9773. Kendall Law Firm offers a free consultation to assess truck crash claims and discuss your rights and legal options.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Staunton

There are many possible causes of truck accidents in Virginia. In many accidents, more than one contributing factor may come into play. Some of the most common causes of truck collisions include:

Driver fatigue: One of the most common causes of truck accidents in the U.S. is driver fatigue. When a trucker becomes exhausted after many long hours of driving, the driver is at increased risk of causing an accident. The driver may have difficulty staying focused on the road and even struggle to keep his or her eyes open. Federal rules limit the number of hours a commercial truck driver can operate a truck each day and each week. But some truck drivers disregard the hours-of-service limits and stay behind the wheel while dangerously fatigued.

Drug and alcohol use: The use of drugs or alcohol by a truck driver impairs judgment and reflexes and increases the risk of a truck collision. Drivers may take over-the-counter allergy medications and be drowsy or impaired by these drugs. If someone — be it the truck driver or the personal vehicle driver — was high or drunk at the time of their accident, this person might be held financially accountable.

Other risky driving behaviors: A truck driver may exceed the speed limit or drive too fast for the road conditions and cause a crash. Large trucks are difficult to maneuver and take more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. A speeding large truck can seriously endanger the occupants of smaller cars on the road. Some speeding truckers follow too closely, increasing the likelihood of rear-end collisions. Another risky behavior is driver distractions, such as texting or making phone calls while driving.

Inadequate driver training: Driving a large truck is a difficult task that requires training as a commercial driver. Due to their size and weight, trucks handle differently than passenger vehicles. Trucks have a significantly wider turning radius than smaller vehicles. If a truck driver fails to take this into account, he or she might inadvertently cause an accident at an intersection. Trucking companies have a responsibility to provide proper training to each of their drivers. If a company fails to meet this expectation, it may be found responsible for a resulting accident.

Inadequate truck maintenance: Inadequate truck maintenance such as brakes out of adjustment or worn tires could contribute to a harmful or fatal crash. Trucking companies or third-party maintenance companies have a legal responsibility to keep their fleet well-maintained. If a truck is not properly maintained and is involved in an accident, the trucking company may be held accountable.

Truck-overloading: Trucks must adhere to a set of federal weight regulations. Cargo must be loaded and secured according to specific guidelines so the cargo doesn’t accidentally shift while in transit. The regulations are intended to protect other motorists from the dangers of an overloaded truck. When a truck is overloaded or carrying an imbalanced load, it may be more difficult to maneuver in traffic, causing an accident.

What Type of Evidence Should Be Reviewed Following a Truck Crash in Staunton?

After a truck crash, it is critical to preserve evidence from the crash to determine the cause. Some types of evidence that an experienced truck accident lawyer may seek after a truck crash include:

• The police report of the accident
• Data from the truck’s black box showing how fast the truck was moving, when the driver first applied brakes and other information
• Eyewitness reports from the accident
• Records of communication between truck drivers and truck dispatchers
• Truck driver logs, including the number of hours worked by the driver at the time of the crash
• Records of the truck’s maintenance
• Trucking company policy and employee manuals

Who Could Be Held Liable for a Truck Collision?

If you have been involved in a truck collision, you may be wondering who may be held liable for your accident. That depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the accident. Below, we have listed some of the parties that are commonly held responsible for truck accidents.

The truck driver: In many situations, the truck driver may be at fault for the accident. This might be the case if the driver was distracted, speeding, tailgating, driving too fast for traffic conditions, or otherwise acting recklessly at the time of the accident.

The trucking company: Trucking companies are subject to various state and federal rules and regulations to promote highway safety. When they disregard these rules and leave dangerous drivers on the road or fail to keep trucks properly maintained, the trucking company may be held financially responsible for an accident. Here are some examples of trucking company negligence for which a company might be found liable:
Negligent hiring and/or training practices, including the failure to conduct proper background checks on all commercial truck drivers that the company employs
Negligent supervision, including allowing truck drivers to work long, fatigue-inducing shifts that violate hours-of-service rules
Poor or improper truck-maintenance

The truck manufacturers: Commercial trucks can have dangerous defects. If a tractor trailer is found to have been defective in design or to be unsafe as a result of the way it was manufactured, then the manufacturer of that truck may be held legally liable for causing or contributing to the accident.

The cargo-loading company: Many accidents are caused by the overloading or improper loading of a truck. The company responsible for loading the truck’s cargo may be held accountable if a shifting load caused a truck drive to lose control or cargo fell off a trailer onto a road, creating a hazard.

Pursuing Compensation for Your Injuries

Truck crashes can be physically and financially devastating. If a truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer has caused an accident, you should not be responsible for the medical bills and financial losses caused by the trucking company’s negligence.

A skilled Staunton truck accident lawyer at Kendall Law Firm will evaluate your accident and seek the maximum compensation for the injuries you have suffered. Depending on the costs you have incurred, you may be eligible for the following types of compensation.

You may receive compensation for:

• Medical bills, including ambulance rides, diagnostic tests, surgical costs, hospital-stay costs, physical therapy and medications
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Long-term disability expenses
• Wheelchairs and other medical devices
• Lost wages, including the loss of future wages due to long-term injury
• Car damage
• Funeral and burial expenses due to the loss of a family member in an accident
• Pain and suffering, including mental and emotional distress you have experienced as a result of your accident

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Staunton, VA Today

If you have been involved in a truck collision in Virginia, it is essential to contact a knowledgeable Staunton injury lawyer sooner rather than later. An experienced truck accident attorney can listen to your story and assess the options you may have to pursue a financial recovery. The sooner your lawyer can begin collecting evidence, the better your chances of securing fair compensation.

Since 2009, Kendall Law Firm has pursued compensation for accident victims across central Virginia. Attorney David Kendall has practiced personal injury law for more than 30 years. He is a Virginia native and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has dedicated himself to serving his clients and community.

We are proud of the stellar service that we offer each of our clients, as is evidenced by our case results and an A+ BBB rating. We approach each case with compassion and pursue fair compensation for all of our clients. To schedule a free case consultation with us, call (866) 590-9773 now or contact us online.