Tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks are massive vehicles, often weighing up to 80,000 pounds. Having one of these huge vehicle driving next to you or behind you can be intimidating for any passenger vehicle driver. Tragically, many truck crashes often result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities because these vehicles are so they are so large. For those individual who are victims of truck accidents or families who have lost a loved one in a crash, filing a lawsuit is one way to pursue the financial compensation to help cover the cost of all the losses their injuries cause.
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Override Truck Accident
One of the most deadly types of truck accidents is referred to as an override accident. These types of crashes occur when the tractor-trailer smashes into the back of another vehicle. Unlike a rear-end collision between two passenger vehicles, because the truck is so much bigger than the vehicle it is hitting, it literally drives into the vehicle. Occupants in the vehicle usually do not survive these types of crashes and those that do are typically left with horrific disabilities.
Although it is possible that the vehicle driver in an override accident may be responsible for the crash, in most of these accidents it is either the truck driver and/or other parties who are responsible. Some of the more common causes of an override accident that a Virginia truck accident attorney usually sees in the cases he or she works on include:
- Distracted driving on the part of the truck driver. This includes violation of the FMCSA rule of handheld technology
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Following the vehicle too closely
- Failure of the truck brakes. This can be because the parts are defective, failure to maintain, or failure to inspect
- Overloading of the truck
- Failure to drive in accordance with road or weather condition
- Truck driver suffering a medical issue, such as a heart attack or stroke
Victims of Truck Crashes
Truck accidents are more complex than other types of vehicle accidents and often have more than one at-fault party. Victims of truck accidents should consider retaining the services of an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney who will conduct a thorough investigation of the crash, including obtaining the driving and employment record of the truck driver, maintenance records, and other critical information which will help determine the cause of the crash and which parties are responsible.
If you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a crash, contact a seasoned Virginia truck accident attorney to discuss what legal recourse you may have. Even if it is not entirely clear who is the at-fault party, a Va. injury attorney will be able to determine which party or parties are liable. At Shapiro & Appleton, our injury attorneys have represented numerous truck accident victims and have the legal expertise to handle these complex cases with positive results.
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