Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer
Virginia is a major trucking route, sitting halfway down the East Coast and funneling traffic to several major ports. Unfortunately, truck accidents are a leading cause of personal injury in the state. Choosing the right Virginia truck accident lawyer can make a huge difference in your case when you’ve been hurt in a truck crash.
On This Page
- Meet the Award-Winning Team at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
- Available Damages in a Truck Accident
- A Virginia Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You Prove Fault
- Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
- Why Work With a Truck Accident Lawyer After Your Accident in Virginia?
- Virginia Truck Accidents FAQs
- Contact a Virginia Truck Accident Attorney From Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is known throughout our region as The Car Crash Experts. We represent clients throughout Virginia and have nine convenient meeting locations, including in Virginia Beach and Suffolk.
We understand that a truck accident can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. Our Virginia truck accident lawyers have the experience and resources to take on even the largest trucking companies and fight fiercely for the full and fair compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call (757) 333-3333 to schedule your free case evaluation.
Meet the Award-Winning Team at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
Hiring an experienced Virginia truck injury lawyer is essential if you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident due to another party’s negligence. It also makes you more likely to get a favorable case outcome. But whom you hire can make a significant difference in the amount of your award.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers are known the car crash experts in Hampton Roads for several reasons:
- Our team was recognized as Top Lawyers by Super Lawyers, Coastal Virginia Magazine, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Virginia.
- Our founding partner, John Cooper, has over 30 years of experience litigating complex injury cases.
- We only represent accident victims, never the insurance companies.
- We take your case on contingency, meaning you pay us no upfront fees, and we only get paid if we win your case.
Client satisfaction means everything to us. We offer a free consultation so you can sit down and tell us your story. From there, we can discuss your options and build a strong case to seek the most favorable outcome.
We've Won Some of the Highest Verdicts and Settlements in Virginia
No attorney can promise a specific case outcome. But when you’ve been seriously hurt, the stakes are too high to take a chance on a firm that doesn’t produce results.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers has established a track record of impressive case results in accident cases throughout Virginia, including the following:
- $6 million settlement ranked as the eighth-highest settlement in Virginia in 2022
- $5 million verdict for a Hampton woman injured by a truck driver in Gloucester County
- $2.46 million verdict ranked the second-highest car crash verdict in 2022
- $800,000 for a woman killed in a tractor-trailer accident
- $500,000 for a man injured in an accident with a truck
Contact our office today for a free consultation.
Available Damages in a Truck Accident
Truck accidents differ significantly from those involving only passenger vehicles. Trucks are heavier, larger, and sit higher off the ground. Crashes between trucks and small passenger vehicles can result in significant property damage and life-threatening injuries.
Trucking companies must have higher insurance coverage to cover the damages their vehicles can cause. Accident victims can recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are quantifiable monetary losses. These include the costs associated with:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- In-home nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Lost job opportunities
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify but often account for most of the compensation you may receive. They cover the more subjective and intangible harm you can suffer in an accident. Examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Psychological distress, like post-traumatic stress disorder
- Permanent disfigurement
- Embarrassment
- Reduced quality of life
While both types of damages are available in a truck accident case, you must prove their extent and severity with evidence. You can also recover punitive damages meant to punish and deter serious misbehavior by at-fault parties.
No amount of money can make up for a lost life. However, if your loved one died in a truck accident, you can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, lost benefits, and more.
Whether in settlement negotiations or the courtroom, our skilled attorneys will calculate the full value of your damages and fight to secure fair compensation. You can count on our Virginia commercial truck accident attorneys to leave no stone unturned. If the at-fault party tries to minimize the value of your claim, we will push back hard.
A Virginia Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You Prove Fault
Virginia is an at-fault insurance state, so you can pursue compensation from the party responsible for your truck accident without first turning to no-fault insurance. While filing a claim against a commercial truck insurer may sound straightforward, they can be complex. Adjusters will strive to minimize or deny the value of your claim, and they are not above using underhanded tactics to protect their bottom lines.
A truck driver could be directly liable for causing an accident. However, truck accident lawsuits are often complicated by the number of potential at-fault parties they involve, which may include:
- The trucking company – If the driver was on duty, the company may be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or poor vehicle maintenance.
- A manufacturer – If defective truck parts contributed to the crash.
- A cargo loading company – If improper loading caused instability or shifting cargo.
- A government entity – If hazardous road conditions played a role.
- A third party – Such as another driver whose actions led to the collision.
Ask The Car Crash Experts - Who's Liable for 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.”
The Impact of Virginia's Contributory Negligence Law on Truck Accident Cases
In Virginia truck accident cases, plaintiffs must overcome the state’s harsh contributory negligence standard. It dictates that you cannot collect compensation for your accident if you were even 1 percent responsible for the collision.
If you cannot prove fault by another party and that you hold none, you won’t be able to collect compensation. An insurance company will use this law to look for every opportunity to avoid responsibility. Hiring a skilled accident attorney to overcome Virginia truck accident claims challenges is always in your best interests.
Our Virginia big rig accident lawyers understand the state’s unique laws and federal regulations governing the trucking industry. To bolster your case, we will conduct an independent accident investigation and hire accident reconstruction experts when necessary.
We Will Negotiate With Insurance Companies on Your Behalf
The last thing a truck crash injury victim should worry about is having enough money to get medical care and pay their bills. Even so, if you were injured in a crash with a commercial truck, you’ll find it’s a struggle to do just that.
Trucking companies and their insurers are not in the business of paying out large claims. They employ many dirty tricks to minimize and deny legitimate claims. For example, the insurance company might offer to only partially cover your medical bills, falsely blame you for the accident, or try to settle quickly with a lowball offer.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers levels the playing field for our clients because we only represent accident victims, never insurance companies. We are experts in dealing with insurance representatives and will handle all negotiations on your behalf.
Learn more: 5 Dirty Tricks Used By Car Insurance Companies
Facing Trial? Work With an Experienced Trial Attorney
Not every case settles through negotiation. If an insurance company won’t be reasonable, it’s in your best interests to go to court with an experienced trial attorney if you believe you have a winning case.
As the claimant in a personal injury case, you have the burden of proof. This involves presenting evidence and eyewitnesses to prove negligence and justify damages. Our firm is highly experienced in navigating this process and will fight the insurance companies on your behalf.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Large commercial trucks have limited maneuverability and visibility. Countless types of auto accidents can happen with these vehicles, often resulting in disastrous consequences. Some of the most common types of passenger vehicle and truck accidents we handle include:
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollover truck accidents
- Side-impact truck accidents
- Wide-turn accidents
- Underride truck accidents
- Blind spot truck accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Truck tire blowouts
- Fatal truck accidents
- Delivery truck accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Active duty military accidents
Our Virginia personal injury lawyers understand the unique causes and effects of truck crashes, the laws that impact them, and how to overcome the challenges of these cases to fight for compensation for your injuries.
Why Work With a Truck Accident Lawyer After Your Accident in Virginia?
After a collision with a delivery truck, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or any commercial vehicle, you will need help. Our truck accident lawyers offer many services to ease your burdens during a difficult time, including the following:
- Gathering evidence to prove fault and justify damages
- Discussing the incident with the police
- Investigating the accident to determine the cause and responsible parties
- Locating witnesses
- Determining sources of insurance coverage
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Seeking the best possible results, including through litigation, if necessary
Truck accident cases are highly complex. A skilled Virginia big rig accident lawyer will immediately secure any video recording or the black box from the trucking company before evidence mysteriously disappears. Hiring an accident reconstruction specialist to prove your case may also be necessary.
We understand your expenses can pile up quickly after a wreck. We will fight for compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs, and other damages.
Virginia Truck Accidents FAQs
1. Is Virginia a No-Fault Insurance State?
Virginia is an at-fault state regarding motor vehicle accidents, meaning the at-fault party will be financially responsible for your damages. In most cases, that party will have an insurance policy that covers some or all of these damages.
2. How Long Do I Have To File a Claim in Virginia?
Under the Virginia personal injury statute of limitations, you normally have two years to file a personal injury claim under the statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline, the court will not allow your suit to proceed. Still, don’t wait too long to file your claim. Witnesses and evidence can disappear quickly. If you’ve been hurt, contact a Virginia semi truck accident lawyer immediately to discuss your options.
3. What if My Accident Involved a Government Vehicle?
Sometimes, government entities own and operate trucks for various purposes. Perhaps the county uses trucks to collect garbage, or a city operates them for road maintenance. If you’re in a crash with a government vehicle, the laws related to filing a claim will be different. There will be shorter time limits for filing a case and possibly caps on compensation. A qualified attorney will be critical to your efforts.
4. How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
The damages available following a crash with a truck will depend partially on the type and severity of your injuries. There may be minimal compensation if the wreck only caused property damage. However, the damages could be extensive if your injuries were catastrophic or permanent.
Proving liability and damages are necessary to win a case. But you can’t trust an insurance company to do the right thing. Our firm has a proven track record of winning high–value case results for accident victims. We promise to fight just as hard for you.
Contact a Virginia Truck Accident Attorney From Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is a premier personal injury law firm in Coastal Virginia. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you deserve a Virginia truck accident lawyer who cares about your outcome and will fight for the results you deserve. We handle truck accident cases throughout the region:
Our award-winning Virginia truck accident attorneys have over 130 years of combined experience and have won millions for clients like yourself. We want to help.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your truck accident case. Contact us online or call (757) 333-3333 to schedule your free case evaluation.
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