Accidents involving commercial motor vehicles such as tractor trailer trucks can cause catastrophic or even fatal injuries. Although strict federal regulations are designed to reduce the number of truck accidents on our roads and highways, truck accidents still occur on a daily basis. Due to the massive size of trucks, truck accident injuries are often disabling or fatal.
How We Are Different
If you have been injured by a tractor trailer or other commercial motor vehicle, you would be best served by an attorney who has handled cases involving tractor trailers and who also has insider knowledge of the trucking industry. All too often, attorneys will treat a tractor trailer accident just like a car accident. This is a mistake that can cause a client to be unable to obtain fair compensation. The trucking industry is highly regulated, causing there to be a lot of information to obtain that would help someone involved in a trucking accident, if there attorney is familiar and knows what to ask for and pursue. Additionally, there may be multiple parties involved including the owner of the tractor, the owner of the trailer, the owner of the products, and third-party brokers who help drivers find loads to haul. Knowing that these parties exist, and how to bring them into a lawsuit is critical to maximize the recovery you deserve.
At Stanfield Bechtel Law, we have the experience necessary to maximize your recovery so that you do not need to settle for less. Our attorneys have the unique and necessary knowledge to handle severe collisions and injuries caused by truck drivers and trucking companies. This unique experience has taught us how these companies analyze, value, and defend these types of cases. More importantly, we know who is involved, where to find the necessary evidence, and what questions to ask to ensure we get you the best recovery possible. We fight for our clients with the tools and knowledge necessary to bring the recovery you deserve.
In fact, we recently handled a case where the injured person went to multiple attorneys who you’ve seen advertised on television, billboards, and on buses, before finding us. Due to a unique set of facts and a lack of knowledge about trucking cases, all of those attorneys turned down the case. Why? Because they did not know how the trucking industry works, and how they value cases. Luckily the client found us. Not only did we take the case, but with our knowledge and experience we were able to achieve a multi-million dollar recovery.
Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Truck accidents are more likely to cause deadly injuries because of the vast size and weight differential between large commercial vehicles and private passenger vehicles on the roadway. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while an average private passenger vehicle only weighs 4,000 pounds. Commercial vehicles are also taller and bigger than other vehicles on the road.
The heavier size and weight results in trucks having a longer stopping distance than smaller vehicles. When truck drivers cannot stop in time because of heavier loads or because they are not paying attention, trucks can collide with passenger vehicles and crush the vehicle and the occupants. The higher the speed, the longer a semi-truck needs to stop safely.
Types of Truck Accidents
Due to their heavy weight, commercial trucks are difficult to maneuver. Truck drivers need specialized training and experience to safely operate these massive vehicles. When truck drivers operate their vehicles negligently or recklessly, the following types of accidents can occur:
- Rollovers: A driver loses control of the truck, and it slides before tipping on its side
- Rear-end: The truck does not stop in time to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of it
- Underride: A truck stops too quickly, or the car behind it doesn’t stop in time, and the passenger vehicle behind it slides under the truck
- T-bone: a driver runs a red light and crashes into another vehicle at a perpendicular angle
- Head-on: the truck and another vehicle collide front-to-front
Common Causes of Connecticut Truck Accidents
When a large commercial truck or a semi-truck collides with a smaller passenger vehicle, the occupants in the passenger vehicle often suffer the brunt of the collision. Truck drivers and trucking companies need to follow safety regulations and use reasonable care when driving on the road. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Intoxication
- Aggressive driving
- Improper maintenance
- Inexperienced drivers
- Improperly loaded cargo
Catastrophic Injuries Caused By Truck Accidents
Truck accident victims are more susceptible to suffering catastrophic injuries than victims of other types of auto accidents. Due to their massive size, when semi trucks collide with passenger vehicles, the force of impact is much more severe and can cause the following types of catastrophic injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Broken bones
- Injuries that lead to amputations
- Spinal cord injuries that lead to full or partial paralysis
- Internal organ damage
Compensation Available in Truck Accident Cases
If you were injured in an accident involving a commercial truck of any sort, it’s important that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Commercial trucking companies frequently have millions of dollars in insurance coverage. The truck and tractor-trailer may be owned and insured by different companies liable for the accident. An experienced attorney can help you identify who can be held liable for your injuries to pursue the full and fair amount of compensation you need and deserve. The following damages may be available by pursuing an insurance settlement or a personal injury claim:
- Lost past and future earnings
- Past and future medical expenses
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
- Other injuries or losses
What Is the Value of My Truck Accident Case?
Victims who suffer disabling injuries at the hands of truck drivers and trucking companies may need to spend extensive time in the hospital, undergo one or more surgeries, and participate in extensive rehabilitation. Catastrophic injury victims may require assistance with day-to-day activities, adaptive vehicles, and other types of support. Additionally, truck accident victims may not be able to return to work. The cost associated with a catastrophic injury can exceed millions of dollars over a person’s lifetime, especially if the person is younger when the accident occurs.
Working with an attorney can help you estimate and recover full compensation, including current and future losses and expenses related to your injury. At Stanfield Bechtel Law, we regularly work with financial and medical experts to be able to clearly convey the extent of our clients’ damages and then we use this information to either try your case, or to negotiate a settlement amount that you deserve.
Wrongful Death in Truck Accident Lawsuits
If your loved one died because of a trucking accident caused by another party’s negligence, you might have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party or parties. A wrongful death lawsuit is a type of personal injury claim against the party who caused the death of another person through negligence. Wrongful death lawsuits are usually brought by family members or executors of the deceased individual’s will.
To succeed in a wrongful death lawsuit, you must show that the defendant’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident that resulted in your loved one’s death. While nothing can bring your loved one back, pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit allows you to hold the negligent party accountable for causing your loved one’s death. You can also recover compensation for your loved one’s medical bills before they died. Other damages available include funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, loss of financial support, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Contact a Connecticut Truck Accident Attorney
The attorneys at Stanfield Bechtel Law have extensive experience advocating for truck accident victims and their surviving family members. When you work with our legal team, you can rest assured that we will do everything possible to pursue the highest settlement amount in your case. We understand the devastating impact truck accidents can have on victims and will work diligently to represent you throughout your case, from investigating your case thoroughly to negotiating effectively with the insurance adjuster or defendant to trying your case in court if we cannot reach a resolution that fully and fairly compensates you. Contact Stanfield Bechtel Law to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about how we will advocate for you.