King and Queen County truck accident lawyers

Helping truck accident victims in King and Queen County

Commercial trucks dot the roads of every U.S. county, including King and Queen, delivering goods we all need. But the bad news is that even if you drive rarely or not at all, you could be injured in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault. What’s even worse? Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries and even death.

We at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys have all too often seen catastrophic truck and car accidents. We have worked with many good people in King and Queen County who were left suffering after a truck accident caused by negligence. We consider it a calling to help those who are hurt. We will always treat you as the neighbor you are, never a number, and we will give you outstanding, compassionate legal representation from start to finish.

If you are the victim of a truck accident, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. Call our King and Queen County injury lawyers at (804) 413-6777 to discuss your case. We have a Zero Fee Guarantee, which means we don’t get paid unless we recover money for you.

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What kinds of truck accidents happen in King and Queen County?

Trucks cause crashes in different ways. Truck are complicated vehicles, and they can malfunction. Other times, truck drivers can make serious mistakes. We at GibsonSingleton have worked with countless truck accident victims and have seen many tragic scenarios. These are the most common types:

• An underride: Semi-trucks are much larger than passenger vehicles because they carry such heavy loads. So, the space between the bottom of a semi’s trailer and the road is large enough to (partially) fit a slim car underneath. When a small car and a semi-truck collide, an underride can happen, or the front of the car can simply get caught under the truck. Either of these scenarios can cause severe injuries to the driver and passengers, even decapitation.
• A rollover: Due to their size, trucks have a high center of gravity. This means that they can tip over fairly easily. All a trucker has to do is take a turn too quickly. Rollovers can cause the truck to land on pedestrians or other vehicles, resulting in serious injuries.
• A jackknife: The trailer of a semi-truck is attached to the cab with safety chains and cables. But when they malfunction, these cables can come undone, leading the cab to lose control of the trailer. This causes the trailer to swing out to the side, creating a 90-degree angle with the cab, hence the name jackknife. When a jackknife happens, the trailer is completely out of control, and can run over nearby cars and pedestrians, crushing them.
• A crash due to overloaded cargo: All sections of America have a weight limit for cargo. In Virginia, the largest truck may carry no more than 80,000 pounds. That’s because when a truck weighs too much, it increases the chances of a rollover or jackknife and wears down the road. Unfortunately, some trucking companies put profits ahead of safety and the law. So, overloaded trucks are fairly common, and they frequently cause accidents.

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What are the dangers caused by truck collisions?

More than 4,000 people, or 11 per day, were killed in truck accidents in the United States during a recent year, according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of those 4,000 people, 67% were in cars. That tells us that a car is rarely able to protect you from the weight and size of a truck during a collision.

Thankfully, not all truck accidents are fatal. But nearly all result in serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Some of the most common injuries we have seen in King and Queen County are:

• Brain damage
• Broken bones
• Road rash
• Deep lacerations
• Spine cord injuries
• Severe burns
• Eye damage
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Loss of limb, or traumatic amputation

These kinds of injuries are hard to recover from and can mean lasting disabilities. Not only can you be left in physical and emotional pain, but the medical costs of treating these injuries can leave you in a financial hole. That’s why determining who is liable for your accident and holding them accountable for your injuries is key.

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Who is responsible for a trucking crash?

The first step in filing a claim is determining who is liable for your accident. Who’s to blame depends on the accident. An overloaded truck crash may have different responsible parties than an underride accident. The most common parties at fault include these four:

• The trucker: Truck drivers control their trucks, so they are most likely at fault. They may have driven while drunk, started speeding, or neglected to check their blind spots before merging into a new lane. Whatever the reason, chances are that the trucker was at least partially responsible.
• The loading crew: The loading crew typically puts the cargo into the truck, ideally noting the appropriate amount, and making sure the cargo is balanced and secure. If a truck is overloaded or unbalanced, a serious wreck can result.
• The trucking company: Trucking companies are supposed to follow federal regulations to keep their drivers and those on the road safe. Ignoring these regulations, such as exceeding the weight limits or not observing the required rest periods for drivers, can be more profitable than obeying them. Some trucking companies may care more about money than safety, and their decisions can cause your accident.
• The mechanic: Trucks have a lot of wear and tear on the road. To keep them in drivable condition, many trucking companies hire a third-party mechanic to maintain them. The mechanic is supposed to spot malfunctions or mechanical errors and correct them. If the mechanic fails to do this and a truck crashes as a result, the mechanic would be the liable party.

Finding out who’s to blame for your accident requires an in-depth investigation, especially if the culprit is the trucking company. But trucking companies are often unwilling to hand out compensation, even when they are legally obligated. They value profits, and your settlement can hurt their bottom line. Getting the compensation you deserve for your damages requires skilled work from an expert attorney.

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GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys are here to help you

If you have suffered injuries in a truck crash in King and Queen County, filing a successful personal injury claim is not easy. Trucking companies can be ruthless when it comes to protecting their bottom lines, and they can fight tooth and nail. But don’t give up hope. With an experienced, local personal injury attorney by your side, you can get the compensation you deserve. We at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys are local, diligent, and compassionate.

As former members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Ken Gibson and John Singleton have served their country, and now they’re ready to serve you. They know how to prepare a plan and execute it successfully to your benefit. To find out all your legal options, call us at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, (804) 413-6777, today. We have a Zero Fee Guarantee, meaning we don’t get paid unless you do.

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