Truck accidents are some of the most devastating crashes that take place on Virginia roads. The size and weight of an 18-wheeler mean these vehicles impart violent forces on whatever vehicle or pedestrian they strike. As a result, the victims of truck accidents often suffer life-altering injuries. If you have been hurt in a crash, a Virginia truck accident lawyer from Arrington Schelin can help you pursue accountability and justice from those responsible.
For more than 40 years, the attorneys of Arrington Schelin have fought for the rights of injured accident victims throughout Virginia. Our firm’s extensive experience gives us an in-depth understanding of the trucking industry and a unique edge when taking on deep-pocketed insurers. We take pride in our outstanding reputation for compassionate service. Our attorneys don’t just focus on your legal recovery. We care about helping you recover physically and emotionally as well.
Contact us for a free initial consultation, during which you will learn how an experienced Virginia truck accident lawyer from our firm can pursue the full compensation you need.
Do You Have a Truck Accident Claim?
You may have a truck accident claim if you were injured in a crash that was caused by a truck driver or a company involved in the truck’s operation. If you are wondering whether you have a right to compensation, please reach out to us to discuss the details of your case in a free consultation.
Why Truck Accidents Are More Complicated
Pursuing justice after a truck accident can prove more complicated than the average motor vehicle accident case for several reasons:
- More evidence is involved, as regulations require trucking companies to prepare lots of documents that must be reviewed following a crash to determine what and who caused the accident.
- There are more potentially liable parties, as trucking companies, cargo companies, maintenance companies, or truck manufacturers may also bear responsibility for causing the wreck.
- Victims tend to suffer more serious injuries, which not only increases the amount of money necessary for fair compensation but also makes it more likely that a settlement or verdict will need to include future anticipated losses.
- Trucking companies may have complex corporate structures or insurance policies that make it difficult to determine the full extent of financial resources available to compensate accident victims.
You should never try to handle a truck accident injury claim on your own. Talk to a highly qualified truck accident lawyer from Arrington Schelin about how we can help.
Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Truck Accident Claim
Going up against big trucking companies and their insurers can be intimidating. Hiring a lawyer for your truck accident claim can offer you several important benefits, including:
- Having an experienced investigator who can recover all the evidence that may prove critical to your case
- Identifying all the party or parties that should be held liable for your injuries
- Documenting the full extent of your expenses and losses, including anticipated future losses
- Filing your claim with the at-fault parties and insurance companies and negotiating aggressively for a fair and full truck accident settlement
- Advocating your case in court if a truck accident lawsuit is your best option for pursuing the payment you need to recover
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Truck Crash?
If you have been hurt in a truck crash, you deserve a full financial recovery for losses that you have incurred. This can include:
- Costs of medical treatments, including emergency medical care, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and medical equipment
- Costs of long-term care for permanent disabilities that result from your injuries
- Loss of income if you miss work while recovering after a truck accident
- Loss of earning capacity if disabilities prevent you from working in the future
- Repair costs for your vehicle, or the value of your vehicle if it was totaled by the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring/disfigurement or disabilities that cause a reduction in your quality of life
Do not trust an insurance adjuster to tell you the value of your case. Their goal is to minimize or even deny your claim. You need an experienced attorney on your side who will look out for your best interests and fight for what’s fair.
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?
Unlike most other types of motor vehicle accidents, liability in a truck accident case may be assigned to parties other than the driver. Examples of parties who may bear some liability for a truck accident include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck’s owner, if different from the truck driver or trucking company
- The cargo company
- The freight broker
- Mechanics or auto shops that performed maintenance on the truck or trailer
- The truck’s manufacturer, or the manufacturers of parts used on the truck
How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?
Because a wreck may have many possible causes, our Virginia truck accident attorneys review many types of evidence to determine how the crash occurred and who should be held liable. The evidence we may use in your truck accident case includes:
- The truck driver’s hours-of-service logs
- The truck driver’s employment and driving records
- Results from any post-accident drug/alcohol screen performed on the truck driver
- The logs from the truck’s electronic data recorder or “black box”
- The load manifest
- Truck inspection and maintenance records
- Traffic and surveillance camera footage
- Accident scene photos
- Police accident reports
- Vehicle inspection/repair reports
- Witness statements
Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Lawsuits in Virginia
Virginia’s statute of limitations on truck accidents gives you only two years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties. If you wait too long to take action, the court can dismiss your case and you can lose the opportunity to seek financial recovery.
Two years may seem like plenty of time. But trucking companies move quickly to protect themselves after a crash. You need a skilled attorney on your side as soon as possible to make sure evidence is not lost or destroyed.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
Some of the most common types of truck accidents that occur in Virginia include:
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Underride accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Right-turn accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Blindspot accidents
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Injuries that are often suffered by victims of truck accidents include:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Soft-tissue injuries, including injuries to ligaments, tendons, and muscles
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Neck, shoulder, and back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal organ injury and internal bleeding
- Traumatic amputation
- Lacerations and abrasions
Truck Accident FAQs
You might be contacted by representatives from the trucking company or their insurance company after being involved in a crash. The adjuster or representative may be looking to take a statement from you regarding the accident, or they may even offer you a quick settlement. You should politely decline to provide a statement or to discuss a settlement. Instead, direct the insurance adjuster or trucking company representative to speak with your lawyer. An attorney can deal with the insurer or trucking company on your behalf and protect your rights and interests.
You should never accept a truck accident settlement without first reviewing it with a knowledgeable Virginia personal injury attorney. The first settlement offer you receive from the trucking company or their insurer likely does not represent fair and full recovery in your case, especially if you are still undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. A Virginia truck accident lawyer can review the details of your case and advise you on what full compensation should be. If a settlement seems insufficient, your lawyer can also negotiate with the trucking company or insurer for a higher offer.
Most truck accident cases are resolved in a settlement long before going to trial. Our Virginia truck accident lawyers will aggressively pursue fair and full compensation for you through an efficient settlement. Of course, if the at-fault parties refuse to pay you fair compensation, our attorneys are prepared to take your case to court to pursue maximum financial recovery for you.
Most truck accident lawyers, including Arrington Schelin, represent clients on a contingency-fee basis. In a contingency-fee arrangement, you are not required to pay any money upfront. Instead, our lawyers only get paid when they secure compensation for you in a settlement or at trial. Your lawyer is then paid a fee equal to an agreed-upon percentage of the total compensation recovered for you.
Talk to a Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer Now
If you have been hurt in a truck crash, contact us online or call Arrington Schelin today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation with an experienced Virginia personal injury lawyer. We represent truck accident victims in Bristol, Marion, Norton, Abingdon, Tazewell, Wise, Lebanon, Grundy, and throughout Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee. We look forward to explaining your legal rights and options for pursuing fair and full compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
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