Truck accidents are often more severe than regular car accidents, causing greater property damage and more substantial injuries. If you were involved in a truck accident, you might be entitled to significant compensation to pay for your medical bills, time away from work, pain and suffering, and other damages.
That said, several challenges could be standing between you and the compensation you deserve, not the least of which is the trucking company and its insurance company. Receiving compensation after an accident usually requires dealing with insurance companies, a process often fraught with frustration and difficulty. Fortunately, a truck accident lawyer in Haymarket can handle this entire process for you.
The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can help you win a fair and robust settlement after a truck accident. Jim Parrish and his accomplished team focuses on accident law and has established a long track record of success winning settlements from trucking companies and insurance companies. To find out what Jim Parrish and his team can do for you, call today to set up a free consultation: 571-229-1800.
Who Might Be Liable for My Truck Accident?
Besides being typically more dangerous and destructive, truck accidents have another important difference from regular car accidents — the number of potentially responsible parties:
The Truck Driver
Truck drivers must follow all the same traffic laws as regular drivers. If, during our investigation into your accident, we find evidence that the truck driver was doing any of the following during or just before the crash, we can potentially find him liable:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving (e.g., texting)
- Running a red light, stop sign, or disregarding any traffic control device
- Tailgating
- Failing to use due care and caution
Truck drivers are also bound by additional rules that do not apply to regular drivers. For instance, they can only drive a certain number of hours each day, and must rest for a minimum amount of time before driving again. They must maintain log books in which they track when they are driving and when they are resting.
Our team can subpoena and review these log books, and if we find missing or incomplete information, or if the log book indicates the driver was out of compliance with any regulation, we can use this as evidence in your case.
The Trucking Company
While we can hold a trucker liable for your accident, under the laws of vicarious liability, we will likely hold the trucking company liable, too. This is because trucking companies have vicarious liability for the behavior of their drivers. In other words, if we can show that the driver was at fault in the accident, then the trucking company is liable for your injuries.
This is good news for you, because while individual drivers often lack the financial resources to pay you a robust settlement, their employers usually have a lot more money.
That said, trucking companies also tend to have stronger legal teams than individual drivers, and their insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. However, because Jim Parrish used to represent insurance companies, he knows how to approach these situations and defend you against any tricks the insurers might pull.
The Shipping Company
Sometimes, the company shipping the freight also bears liability in a truck accident (common in unsecured cargo accidents). Shipping companies, like trucking companies, are usually fairly large, and possess the financial resources to pay you a robust settlement.
Parts Manufacturers
We might be able to win additional damages from the manufacturer if a faulty vehicle component on either your car or the semi-truck caused or contributed to the accident.
We Seek Compensation to Cover All Damages for Which You Are Eligible
You could be entitled to many forms of damages. We pursue all of them. For instance:
- Medical bills: Your medical costs might include hospital stays, doctor appointments, prescription medication, rehabilitation, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and more. If you have long-term injuries that will require future care, we estimate those costs and pursue the responsible parties for them, as well.
- Lost wages: If you must miss work while recovering from your injuries, we seek compensation for the income you are unable to earn during this time. We also fight for the compensation you lost if you are unable to return to work or must take a lesser-paying job.
- Property damage: We also go after the responsible party or parties for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, and for the value of any other personal items, such as jewelry or electronic equipment, that suffered damage in the crash.
- Pain and suffering: Truck accidents often result in significant pain and suffering, not to mention a great deal of inconvenience as you try to recover and get your life back to normal. While the damages associated with such discomfort are difficult to quantify with an exact dollar figure, the team at The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC will determine the maximum amount for which you might qualify, and go after this sum.
- Punitive damages: You could also qualify for additional compensation in the form of punitive damages if we can show that any of the responsible parties were not merely negligent in the crash, but were acting in a manner that was reckless or malicious.
Schedule Your Free Consult with a Haymarket Truck Crash Lawyer Today
With thousands or possibly millions of dollars on the table in a truck accident case, your choice of a personal injury lawyer matters. Go with the team that has won the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO and the Client Satisfaction Award from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.
The legal team at The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC is ready to get to work for you. To set up your free consultation, call today: 571-229-1800.
