Collisions with large commercial trucks present a significant danger to occupants of passenger vehicles. Due to the sheer size and weight of large trucks and the rate of speed at which many of these accidents occur, Clarksburg truck accidents have a high likelihood of causing severe injuries.
If you’ve been involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck and suffered injuries due to a truck driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and other losses through a truck accident lawsuit.
Contact Robinette Legal Group, PLLC, now to speak with a Clarksburg personal injury lawyer and learn more about your legal options in a free consultation.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Clarksburg
Your highest priority after a truck accident is to pursue and stick with a medical treatment plan that helps you physically recover to the fullest possible extent. There are some other steps you’ll want to take, including:
- Keep track of all paperwork associated with the accident.
- Avoid posting about the truck accident on social media.
- Avoid saying anything to insurance adjusters that might compromise your claim.
- Contact our truck accident lawyers as soon as possible to explore your legal options.
The actions you take following a serious accident — as well as those you fail to take — could affect your case, so it’s essential to proceed with this in mind. Letting our attorneys handle your case right from the start is the safest way to proceed.
Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents have a variety of causes, many of which come down to negligence on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, the repair facility responsible for its maintenance, or the company that loaded the cargo.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Distracted, fatigued, or impaired driving
- Aggressive driving
- Failure to drive at an appropriate speed
- Poor driver training
- Defective vehicle or parts
- Failure to keep up with maintenance and repairs
- Failure to properly secure the cargo
External conditions such as weather and lack of road maintenance can also cause or contribute to truck accidents. In those circumstances, the fault usually lies with the driver’s failure to adapt to the conditions.
Injuries Typically Suffered in 18-Wheeler Crashes
Due to the size difference between passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers, truck accident injuries can be severe, especially when a crash occurs at highway speeds. Some of the catastrophic injuries most common in truck accidents include:
- Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Back injuries, including slipped discs
- Facial injuries, including eye and dental injuries
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Severe bruising
- Internal injuries, including bleeding and organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Limb loss
- Fatal injuries
The severity of the injuries in a truck accident case will determine the type of medical treatment required, affect your ability to fully recover, and influence the amount of compensation you seek.
Determining Liability in West Virginia Truck Accident Cases
To determine truck accident liability, your Clarksburg truck collision lawyer will analyze all the evidence from the accident, including photos of the accident site, eyewitness testimony, the police report, any available dashcam or surveillance videos, medical records, and other details.
Truck accidents also produce substantial evidence due to recordkeeping requirements imposed on trucking companies. Such evidence may include driver logs, electronic data, vehicle maintenance records, records related to the cargo, and more.
Your attorney will review the evidence to determine who is liable for your injuries. When a truck driver causes an accident, they’re the most obvious liable party, but the trucking company and various other parties in the trucking industry may also be liable if their negligence caused or contributed to the accident. Also, if the trucker is an employee – not an independent contractor – then the employer would be vicariously liable for the truck driver’s negligence.
Common Types of Trucking Accidents in Clarksburg, West Virginia
Truck accidents come in many forms, some of which are unique to these types of vehicles. Some of the most common types of Clarksburg truck accidents include:
- Blind-spot accidents
- Lane-change and merging accidents
- Speed-related accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Tip-over accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Overcorrection accidents
- Underride accidents
- Accidents involving unsecured cargo
The size of commercial trucks makes certain types of accidents much more likely to occur, as well as more likely to inflict significant injury to the occupants of smaller vehicles.
Damages Awarded in Clarksburg Truck Accident Claims
Due to the severity of many trucking accident injuries, you may be able to pursue a significant amount of compensation through a truck accident claim. Your West Virginia attorney will analyze the evidence and gain an understanding of the actual consequences of the accident to determine how much compensation to seek on your behalf.
In general, trucking accident victims can pursue compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Incidental expenses related to the accident
- Loss of quality of life
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
The amount of compensation your personal injury attorney pursues will depend on the severity of your injuries and your prospects for making a physical recovery.
Deadline to File a Truck Accident Claim in West Virginia
In West Virginia, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a truck accident lawsuit seeking compensation for your serious injuries and related losses. It’s important to act quickly following an accident. Your lawyer needs time to conduct a thorough investigation to gather and review the evidence. Many types of crucial evidence could become unavailable if you wait too long.
In wrongful death cases, you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to pursue legal action.
Talk to an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Clarksburg, WV, Today
Your experience following a truck accident is likely to be stressful and exhausting. You may be overwhelmed by the doctor appointments and the demands of your physical recovery, as well as dealing with the trauma you experienced when you got hurt. You shouldn’t feel like you must also take charge of a complex legal process.
When you need a Clarksburg truck accident attorney with experience handling cases involving commercial trucks, contact Robinette Legal Group, PLLC. We’re here to hold the at-fault parties accountable, make your life easier, and give you the time and space you need to heal. Our law firm serves Clarksburg, Harrison County, and surrounding areas of West Virginia.
Reach out today for a free consultation to learn more about your rights and how we can help you pursue maximum compensation and justice.
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