Not every personal injury attorney has the experience and/or legal expertise to successfully represent truck accident victims. Truck accident lawsuits are often more complex than other types of vehicle accident cases and require the skill of an attorney who knows what type of evidence is needed to prove liability. In addition to the normal state injury statutes that may apply to the case, Virginia truck accident cases also may involve federal regulations pertaining to commercial trucks and other carrier vehicles.
Victims of truck accidents should consider contacting a Virginia truck accident attorney from Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn to discuss what type of legal options they may have against those responsible for the crash.
Vehicle Evidence
A seasoned Virginia truck accident attorney knows that there is specific evidence that may be available in a trucking accident case that is typically not available in a regular car accident lawsuit. For example, trucking companies should have maintenance records of all the trucks in their fleet. These records could reveal any mechanical issues that may have been present in the vehicle involved in the crash and/or whether the company repaired the issue.
Truck Driver Record Evidence
Federal regulations for trucking companies concerning the drivers who operate their vehicles may also be used as evidence. One of those regulations has to do with hours-of-service. Truck drivers are only allowed to operate their vehicles for so many consecutive hours and are required to have a certain number of breaks when they are driving. They are also required to have a certain number of hours for rest in between their allowed operating hours. The federal government requires truck drivers to log all of this information and these logs can be used by an attorney to prove truck driver fatigue in a truck accident.
The driving and employment records of the driver can also be used as evidence, especially if the truck driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the crash or if it is suspected the driver’s inexperience or lack of training caused the accident.
Liability of Other Parties
In many truck accident cases, evidence is used to show the liability of other parties for the crash besides the truck driver. If the truck driver was an employee of the trucking company, the company can be ordered to pay the damages the victim suffered.
If the cause of the crash was mechanical in nature, the evidence may be used to pursue compensation from the party that was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the vehicle if this work was not done by the trucking company’s own mechanics. In the case of a defective truck part, the victim can pursue a claim against the company that manufactured that part.
Contact a Virginia Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by a negligent or reckless truck driver, contact a seasoned Virginia truck accident attorney. Truck accidents can be more complex than other types of motor vehicle accidents because depending on the circumstances of the crash, there may be multiple parties who are liable for a victim’s injuries.
Our Virginia personal injury law firm has successfully represented many clients who were injured in truck accidents and will use all available resources to aggressively advocate for you and your family in obtaining the financial compensation you deserve.
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