Newport News Truck Accident Lawyer
Any collision between two vehicles on any of Newport News’ major roads such as Interstate 664, Warwick Blvd, and Jefferson Avenue can result in serious injuries. However, perhaps no crashes are as serious as those between large commercial trucks and personal cars. The occupants in the smaller cars can sustain life-changing or even fatal injuries.
A Newport News truck accident attorney with Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers could help you collect compensation for injuries sustained in a wreck with a tractor-trailer. By working with one of our knowledgeable accident attorneys from the beginning, you can avoid the common mistakes that could jeopardize your chances of a full recovery.
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
Truck drivers and their companies are also subject to additional rules in many situations. For example, federal regulations apply to interstate truck operations. These laws control how many hours a commercial driver may travel in 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.
A Tractor-Trailer Accident is Often Devastating
The most obvious way a truck accident could affect a person’s life is the physical impact and resulting bodily injuries. The car is likely to be totaled. Often, the occupants of a car hit by a truck also sustain serious, life-changing injuries. Common examples of injuries in tractor-trailer accident cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paraplegia
- Separated joints like a busted shoulder
- Severe cuts or bruising
- Fractured bones
- Internal bleeding
While a personal injury case arising from a truck accident will have a physical injury and medical bills as its base, the claim can also demand compensation for other losses. For example, some lawsuits or insurance claims involve lost wages if the client missed time from work. These economic losses can also be a part of any 18-wheeler accident claim.
Emotional harm resulting from the accident is another possible loss. It is not uncommon for victims to feel hesitant to be on the road again or to suffer from other post-traumatic symptoms following a severe accident. These mental anguish losses are compensable. A Newport News lawyer could help you evaluate your losses and demand appropriate compensation following a truck accident.
Compensation for a Truck Accident Injury
A truck accident could result in countless injuries. These injuries can have significant collateral consequences including expenses related to medical treatment or missed wages from time away from work. Financial compensation could be available for each of these hardships following a successful civil claim. A skilled Newport News lawyer could help recover compensation for various types of damages after a trucking accident.
Medical Bills
The cost of medical care continues to go up, especially when serious injuries are involved. These expenses could include ambulance rides and emergency room care, as well as the cost of long-term treatment. Damages could be available to cover all medical treatment—past and future—related to a truck accident injury.
Pain and Suffering
Traumatic injuries are known for causing severe, lasting pain. Certain injuries—including nerve damage or brain trauma—can lead to permanent pain that never goes away. The physical pain caused by a truck accident warrants financial compensation.
Property Damage
Most of the time, cars that collide with commercial trucks sustain significant damage. It is not unusual for these vehicles to be completely wrecked after the crash. When a truck driver causes property damage, they could be liable for the cost of replacing or repairing the damaged vehicle.
Lost Wages
One of the most frustrating aspects of recovering from a serious injury can be the inability to maintain employment. Some injuries will prevent a person from returning to work for weeks, months, or even longer time periods. This can lead to the sudden and unexpected loss of a primary source of income. Replacing these lost wages is possible with help from a Newport News truck accident attorney.
Deadlines for Filing Suit after a Truck Crash
There are important deadlines that must be met in a personal injury case. Few deadlines are as critical as the 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 their lawsuit. This two-year period begins to count down on the date of the truck accident. Outside of limited circumstances, extending this deadline is not possible.
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 statute expires, the opportunity to reach a settlement with the other side is also lost. This is because truck drivers and their insurance companies have no obligation to pay a claim if they are immune from a lawsuit. As such, it is critical to seek out legal counsel as soon as possible after a tractor-trailer collision to ensure compliance with the statute of limitations.
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 that you deserve. Our goal is to make sure you receive the compensation that you deserve and that you are always up to date on your case. To schedule your free consultation, call us today.
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