King William County truck accident lawyers

How do our attorneys advocate for King William County victims of truck accidents?

King William County residents rely on trucks to deliver essential goods, with common truck-driving roads including Route 30 and Route 360. However, semi-trucks are big, unwieldy, and slower—taking twice as long to stop as regular passenger vehicles. As a result, they can cause catastrophic injuries when they crash into cars, pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and bicycles. That’s why it’s so important for trucking companies to hire safe drivers and make sure their trucks are well-maintained.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a King William County truck accident, contact GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys as soon as possible. When you choose our law firm to conduct a personal injury case, you don’t pay anything unless we win—we call it our Zero Fee Guarantee.

Helping our friends and neighbors get the resources they need to get better after an accident is not just a job for us. As former members of the United States Marines, attorneys Ken Gibson and John Singleton consider it a calling to fight tirelessly for the justice that accident victims deserve.

Call our firm at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated lawyers today.

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How many truck accidents occur in Virginia?

With more large commercial trucks on the roadways today, truck accidents are on the rise. Passenger vehicle occupants are likely to be seriously injured or killed in a collision involving a semi-trailer truck. In fact, in the United States, large truck crashes killed more than 4,100 people in a year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of these truck accident deaths:

• 16 percent were truck occupants (drivers)
• 15 percent were motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians
• 67 percent were occupants of passenger vehicles

Additionally, Virginia had almost 60 fatal crashes, just over 700 injury crashes, and almost 1,600 property damage crashes involving large trucks. This was in the most recent year (for which statistics are available), according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

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What types of truck accidents typically occur in King William County?

Jackknife accidents occur when a truck’s trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab, resembling a folding pocket knife. These accidents are typically caused by sudden braking, slippery road conditions, or driver error. The consequences can be severe, often leading to multi-vehicle collisions and significant injuries.

Preventing jackknife accidents involves properly maintaining the truck’s braking system, cautiously driving in adverse weather conditions, and adequately training truck drivers.

Rollover accidents are among the most dangerous types of truck accidents, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. These accidents occur when a truck tips over onto its side or roof, usually due to factors such as taking curves too quickly, overloading, or uneven cargo distribution. Slippery roads and high winds can also contribute to rollovers.

To prevent rollovers, truck drivers should follow the speed limit—especially on curves—and always make sure their cargo is properly secured and balanced.

Underride accidents happen when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a truck’s trailer, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. These accidents are particularly dangerous because the roof of the smaller vehicle can be crushed, causing catastrophic damage. Common causes of underride collisions include sudden stops, poor visibility, and inadequate rear or side guards on the truck.

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How do truck accidents happen?

Runaway trucks occur when a truck loses control, often due to brake failure, steep downhill grades, or driver error. These accidents are highly dangerous because the truck can barrel uncontrollably down the road, causing major destruction and posing significant risks to other road users. Factors contributing to runaway trucks include overheating brakes, improper maintenance, and overloading.

Strategies for preventing runaway trucks involve inspecting brakes regularly, using engine braking on downgrades, and adhering to weight limits. Truck drivers must also be trained to recognize early signs of brake failure and know how to use escape ramps when available.

Wide turns are common for trucks, but they present significant risks to other road users. Trucks need extra space to execute these turns, and they often swing left before turning right, which can catch other drivers off guard.

Truck drivers can help prevent these accidents by using proper signaling, checking mirrors frequently, and turning slowly.

Lane change and merging accidents are frequent among trucks due to their large size and limited visibility. These accidents often occur when a truck driver fails to check blind spots or misjudges the speed and distance of other vehicles. Contributing factors to these accidents include truck driver distraction, fatigue, and intoxicated truckers.

Truckers should use their mirrors effectively, signal well in advance, and make lane changes gradually. Defensive driving techniques—maintaining a safe distance and being cautious when a truck is signaling a lane change—can also help prevent these accidents.

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What are the most common causes of truck accidents in King William County?

Truck driver actions that typically contribute to large truck accidents include improper lane changes and turns, following too closely, and speeding. Additional common causes of truck accidents include:

• Fatigued driving (hours of service violations)
• Distracted driving
• Overloaded trucks
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Traveling too fast for conditions
• Aggressive driving
• Brake or equipment failure
• Tailgating
• Prescription drug use

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How can driver inattention and fatigue lead to truck accidents?

Non-performance and recognition were two of the top four critical reasons for truck driver crashes in the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Non-performance means the driver fell asleep at the wheel or was physically impaired for some reason. Recognition means the driver was inattentive, distracted, or unable to accurately observe the situation.

Unrealistic schedules and long hours on the road can lead to driver fatigue and inattention. Driver physical or mental exhaustion is another major contributing factor to truck accidents.

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Who can be held liable for King William County collisions involving trucks?

Our King William County auto accident lawyers can thoroughly investigate your truck accident to determine fault and liability. There may be multiple potentially responsible parties.

• If the truck driver’s negligence caused the crash, the driver may be liable.
• The trucking company that hired the driver may be liable if it set unrealistic expectations, encouraged the driver to rush despite safety risks, failed to properly screen or train the driver, or failed to properly maintain the truck.
• A company responsible for maintaining the truck may be liable if a vehicle failure caused the crash.
• A company responsible for loading the cargo may be responsible if the truck was improperly loaded, and that contributed to the accident.
• If a defective truck part caused the collision, the manufacturer may be liable.

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What is the legal process for seeking compensation after a truck crash in King William County?

Immediate steps post-accident are crucial to ensure your safety and protect your legal rights. First, check for injuries and call emergency services if needed. You can also document the scene by taking photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Additionally, gather contact information from witnesses and the truck driver, including insurance details. And do not admit fault or discuss the accident in detail with anyone other than the police.

Seek medical attention, even if you feel fine, because some injuries may not be immediately apparent. You also want to contact an experienced truck accident attorney.

With GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation, which may include interviewing witnesses, obtaining the truck’s black box data, reviewing maintenance records, and examining the driver’s logbook. Experts may also be consulted to reconstruct the accident and analyze technical data.

Once the investigation phase is complete and liability is established, GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys will enter into negotiations with the insurance company or the responsible party. The goal is to reach a fair settlement that covers all your damages. If a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached, our attorneys are always prepared to litigate the case in court.

During the trial, both sides will present their arguments, and we will advocate for your right to fair compensation. The judge or jury will then deliberate and render a verdict. If the outcome is favorable, you will receive the awarded compensation.

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How can our King William County lawyers help with your truck accident injuries?

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries that lead to substantial damages. You may be able to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses, lost income, medical equipment, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement and scarring, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we consider it our calling to help people who are hurt. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim. We will come to you—and when we represent you, you pay us no fees until we recover compensation for you.

If you have been injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, our truck accident lawyers serving King William County can help. Call us at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to schedule a free consultation.

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