King William County truck accident lawyers

Advocates for truck accident victims in King William County

With more large commercial trucks on the roadways today, truck accidents are on the rise. In a collision with a semi tractor-trailer, passenger vehicle occupants are likely to be seriously injured or killed. In a recent year in the U.S., large truck crashes killed 4,119 people, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of these truck accident deaths:

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

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How many truck accidents occur in Virginia?

Virginia had 58 fatal crashes, 717 injury crashes, and 1,581 property damage crashes involving large trucks in the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

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

Crash data about why large truck accidents happened in the most recent year for which statistics are available is published by the Virginia DMV. Truck driver actions that contributed to large truck accidents included improper lane changes, following too closely, improper turns, and speeding. 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 crashes assigned to truck drivers 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 or distracted or failed to accurately observe the situation. Unrealistic schedules and long hours on the road can lead to driver fatigue and driver inattention. Driver physical or mental exhaustion is a major contributing factor to truck accidents.

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Who can be held liable for collisions involving trucks?

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

• If truck driver 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 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 types of compensation can you recover for truck accident injuries?

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries leading 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 can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim. If you have been injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, call us at (804) 413-6777 to schedule a free consultation. We will come to you. We consider it our calling to help people who are hurt. When we represent you, you pay us no fees until we recover compensation for you.

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