Commercial trucks are large vehicles that travel across our nation’s highways at high rates of speed. In the back of the average commercial truck, there are usually heavy cargo loads weighing many tons. This combination of weight and speed makes almost any truck accident devastating to anyone in a smaller vehicle.
If you were injured in a truck accident, our Richmond truck accident lawyers from Portner & Shure, P.A. want to hear from you. We have spent more than 30 years litigating complex and high-stakes truck accident cases. Thanks to our efforts, we have obtained numerous favorable results for our clients throughout the years.
Call today to see what our firm can do for your case, too! We speak English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese).
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Richmond
The commercial trucking industry is subject to extensive regulation by the federal government to try to limit the harsh working conditions most commercial truck drivers endure each week. Commercial truck drivers spend long hours in isolated conditions driving long distances, sometimes for 11 hours in a single day, for example. However, the competitive nature of the trucking industry leads many truckers and trucking companies to completely ignore Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations in pursuit of higher profits.
Some of the more common causes of truck collisions are:
- Truck driver fatigue: Federal law imposes strict requirements on the number of hours that truck drivers are permitted to drive before having to take mandatory rest breaks. To make more money, truck drivers often continue driving instead of resting because they are paid by the mile, not the hour. Fatigued drivers often suffer from reduced reaction times and inattentiveness.
- Drug abuse: Some truck drivers abuse medications to counteract the effects of fatigue. Being impaired by a drug can be just as dangerous as being tired, though.
- Speeding: Truck drivers often drive faster than the posted speed limit in order to deliver their cargo on schedule while also increasing their per-mile paycheck. Commercial trucks require more time and distance to stop due to their size, so speeding is a terrible idea.
- Illegal maneuvers: When lost or in a hurry, a trucker might drive on roads or in areas that they are not permitted to travel. Due to their size, commercial trucks often do not have sufficient space to maneuver on these roads, which can result in a truck accident.
Injuries & Financial Compensation
Truck accident victims often suffer severe injuries. This is because of the sheer size of commercial trucks makes them extremely dangerous at high speeds.
A high-speed collision with a 40-ton vehicle is a catastrophic event that can result in victims suffering:
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Death
Truck accident victims usually require emergency medical treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, and physical therapy. They can also be left unable to work for months or longer.
Virginia allows truck accident victims to demand compensation through a claim or lawsuit, though. Compensation can pay for all economic and noneconomic damages. Our goal is maximizing your compensation amount so you can live as comfortably as possible again.
From Settling to Litigating, We Do It All
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury in a truck accident in Richmond, Virginia, reach out to our truck accident attorneys as soon as you can. We know how to investigate the facts surrounding the collision and also know how to obtain crucial evidence such as black box data, driver employment files, drug test results, and travel logs. Insurance companies know our name and will be hesitant to try to coerce you or dismiss your claim when we are acting on your behalf.
