Newport News Truck Accident Lawyer
- Last Updated: 03 Apr, 2025
Tractor-trailers and semi-trucks drive regularly on Newport News roads, especially around Interstate 664, Warwick Blvd., and Jefferson Avenue. Their massive size and heavy weight make them especially dangerous to smaller SUVs and cars. Victims involved in an accident with a commercial truck, including tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers, may sustain life-threatening or fatal injuries.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers represent clients hurt in collisions. When you turn your case over to our Newport News truck accident lawyers, we can help you recover compensation for your losses.
Find Out What Your Case is Worth
On This Page
Why Work With Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers has over 120 years of combined legal experience. We are exclusively dedicated to helping injured people get justice for their injuries—it’s all we do. That’s why we’re the ideal choice for those looking for legal support after a truck accident in Newport News.
Our attorneys have won national recognition as personal injury lawyers. Our accolades include Lawyers of Distinction, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. Several of our lawyers hold an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which exemplifies our commitment to high ethical standards and legal excellence.
Our firm has a long history of securing compensation for truck accident victims. In one notable case, we recovered $1.5 million for surviving family members of a victim killed when a truck struck their vehicle. In another, our attorneys fought for a $500,000 settlement for a man severely injured in a truck crash. We also won some of the highest settlements in Virginia during 2023.
When you work with us, you can count on top-tier legal representation. Our attorneys have experience navigating claims at all levels, from insurance negotiations to the courtroom. We have no problem taking a case to trial if an insurance company won’t compensate you fairly.
Compensation for a Truck Accident Injury
The injuries from a truck accident can have significant financial consequences, including expenses related to medical treatment or missed wages from time away from work. They can leave you with debilitating pain, lasting effects on your life, and significant emotional trauma.
In a truck accident claim, you can generally seek compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover your financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate for the more subjective impacts of your injuries. The losses you can seek compensation for include the following:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity if you’re unable to return to your normal line of work
- Damage to your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Seeking Justice After a Fatal Truck Accident
If a loved one has died from a truck accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Under Virginia law, the victim’s personal representative can file a wrongful death claim and recover compensation for the surviving spouse, children, parents or siblings, and dependent relatives.
The damages available from a wrongful death claim include the following:
- Expenses for medical care before your loved one’s death
- Loss of income of the decedent
- Loss of services, protection, care, and assistance provided by the decedent
- Sorrow and mental anguish
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and advice
- Funeral expenses
A court may award punitive damages if the at-fault party engaged in willful or wanton conduct or a conscious disregard for the safety of others.
When Is a Trucker At Fault for an Accident in Newport News?
Tractor trailer drivers must adhere to all the same rules of the road as other drivers, and then additional regulations just for truck drivers. The rules of the road include a responsibility to drive in a safe manner as well as to keep the commercial truck under control. A trucker may be at fault for an accident if:
- They were speeding
- They ignored a stop sign or red light
- They were texting or were otherwise distracted while driving
- They failed to yield to a car that had the right of way
In many situations, truck drivers and their companies are also subject to additional rules. For example, federal regulations apply to interstate truck operations. These laws control how many hours a commercial driver may travel during any given day or week.
The Newport News truck wreck attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers help clients gather evidence of negligence following an accident with an 18-wheeler. This data can include police reports and notes of witness interviews, pictures of the location of the crash, driver logs, and weigh station records that establish any potential violation of the law. Using this evidence, we build a powerful case for the truck operator’s fault and your compensation.
Ask The Car Crash Experts—Who's Liable in a Commercial Truck Accident?
Bailey Gifford, Personal Injury Lawyer
“If you’re hit by a commercial vehicle, it’s not just the driver who’s liable for any injuries they may have caused. The company that employs the driver at the time of the accident is also responsible for any injuries resulting from their employee’s actions.”
Deadlines for Filing Suit After a Truck Crash
There are important deadlines for filing personal injury cases. No deadline is as critical as the one set by the personal injury statute of limitations. The statute of limitations sets a time limit on all personal injury lawsuits brought in Newport News and throughout Virginia. If a person fails to file on time, they could permanently lose out on their chance for compensation.
The statute of limitations provides injured victims with two years to file suit. This two-year period begins to count down on the date of the truck accident. Extending this deadline is only possible in limited circumstances.
The consequences of failing to comply with the statute of limitations are severe. If a person waits until after the deadline, the court will likely have little choice but to dismiss the case with prejudice. That means the case is not only dismissed but the opportunity to refile it is lost forever.
If the deadline passes, you will lose the opportunity to recover the compensation you deserve. This is because truck drivers and their insurance companies have no obligation to pay a claim if they are immune from a lawsuit. Thus, it is critical to consult legal counsel as soon as possible after a tractor-trailer collision to ensure compliance with the statute of limitations.
Free eBook
Get a FREE copy of “The Best Book About Virginia Car Accidents & Injuries”
Help From a Newport News Truck Accident Attorney
It is easy to feel disheartened and intimidated following a truck wreck. You may feel you cannot possibly pursue an action for damages against a large company or that the claim will cause more stress during an already tremendously difficult time. This could prevent you from pressing forward with a claim for full value or even from taking legal action at all. If you just live with it or wait for the insurance company representative to take care of you, you may later regret that inaction. You want to retain good tractor-trailer collision counsel as soon as possible after the incident.
A Newport News truck accident lawyer takes the lead while you focus on your recovery. We can take the initiative throughout the entire legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. In our dedication to supporting you effectively, we gather thorough evidence, leaving no detail overlooked. To schedule your free consultation, call us today.
Find Out What Your Case is Worth
