If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck accident, our legal team will fight to hold those who harmed you accountable. At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, our Leesburg personal injury lawyers provide legal services for victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents in Virginia.
With the help of our team, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and “pain and suffering” and inconvenience.
Call today for a FREE claim review. Learn more about what our Leesburg truck accident lawyers can do for you.
Working With a Leesburg Truck Accident Attorney
In the aftermath of a truck accident, you may face significant medical bills and debilitating injuries. Dealing with these challenges on your own isn’t easy.
Our team is here to shoulder this burden. We can manage every aspect of your case so you can focus on what really matters, like healing from your injuries or spending time with your family.
These are the services a Leesburg truck accident lawyer can provide:
- Conducting a thorough investigation of your case so we collect every bit of evidence we need to build a robust case
- Supporting your claims with the evidence we collect to give your case the best chance of success
- Managing communications with the insurance company so you don’t have to, which ensures that it doesn’t trick you into doing or saying something that jeopardizes your case
- Representing your best interests every step of the way, ensuring that you always have someone fighting for you against the insurance company
- Fighting for fair compensation so you get the compensation you need to move forward
Knowledge from Inside the Insurance Industry
Trucking accidents often involve insurance claims. To file a liability claim, you’ll need to contact and negotiate with the responsible party’s insurer.
Jim Parrish, our lead attorney, previously worked as counsel for insurance companies. Jim understands the bad faith tactics insurance companies use and can rely on his knowledge from inside the insurance industry during negotiations.
For example, he knows that insurance companies often ask for recorded statements to use against claimants. He also knows that insurance companies regularly use AI to mass reject both valid and invalid claims.
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we aren’t afraid to stand up to insurers when they:
- Offer you less than you deserve
- Argue that you were responsible for your injuries
- Outright deny your claim
No Fees Unless We Win
Semi-truck accidents aren’t cheap. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the average comprehensive cost of a fatal automobile accident is over one million dollars.
We understand that you might be in a tight financial position. For this reason, we operate on a contingency-fee basis. This means our personal injury attorneys require no upfront fees, and you don’t pay us until we win your case.
What Damages Do I Qualify for?
As a truck accident victim, you have the right to pursue the following types of economic and non-economic damages:
- “Pain and suffering” and inconvenience
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lowered earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one, you could also qualify for these unique wrongful death damages, per Va. Code § 8.01-52:
- Funeral expenses
- Burial expenses
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and comfort
- Sorrow and mental anguish
- Medical expenses incurred before the passing of your loved one
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we extend our deepest condolences if you lost a loved one in a commercial vehicle accident. As your legal team, we will do everything we can to ensure that you feel safe, comfortable, and supported throughout the legal process. Our clients come first, and your recovery is our priority.
How Do I Pursue Damages?
Damages in a truck accident are typically pursued in one of two ways:
- An insurance claim
- A lawsuit
If the truck driver who caused your injuries is insured, you can file a liability claim with their insurer. A claim may not produce a satisfying result, however. If this occurs, our team isn’t afraid of filing a lawsuit. Keep in mind that personal injury lawsuits don’t usually go to trial. Instead, both parties typically settle outside of court.
If going to trial is the best option for your case, we will make sure you are prepared for the proceedings.
However, it’s important to note that you can hold the trucking company liable in many cases. This could allow you to recover more compensation as policy limits are much higher for trucking company insurance policies.
How Do I Prove Negligence in My Truck Accident Case?
Truck accident cases are a category of personal injury law. In these cases, one individual or group has harmed another. If the injured individual can provide proof that their injuries were caused by negligence, they can receive compensation through a lawsuit or insurance claim.
Therefore, establishing negligence is critical in truck accident cases. Common types of negligence that can cause a truck accident include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Ignoring roadway laws or signage
The Four Criteria of Negligence Using the Evidence We Gather
The evidence we gather will play an essential role in highlighting liability. With it, we can show:
- The liable party owed you a duty of care: Drivers, especially truck drivers, are responsible for keeping others from harm. This responsibility is known as a duty of care in the legal world.
- The liable party didn’t uphold this duty: The evidence we gather needs to show that the responsible party behaved negligently and put your life at risk. In a truck accident, speeding, drunk driving, or distracted driving are common examples of negligence.
- The liable party caused your accident: There needs to be a clear link between the liable party’s negligence and the accident that caused your injuries.
- You suffered damages: Damages like medical expenses and severe injuries can be demonstrated through your medical records and other types of evidence.
The Trucking Company May Also Be Liable
In Leesburg, VA, a legal precedent called vicarious liability applies. Under this precedent, you can sue an employer if their employee behaved unsafely.
Similarly, a trucking company could also be liable for your injuries if it didn’t uphold safe business practices. Here are some ways that a trucking company could have violated safety laws or regulations:
- Not meeting Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards
- Encouraging drivers not to take breaks
- Hiring drivers with unsafe records
- Not properly training drivers
Other parties, such as maintenance companies, cargo or shipping companies, and manufacturers, could also be liable.
Our Leesburg truck accident lawyer can determine who’s responsible for your injuries. Then, we can work on securing fair compensation. Remember that just because your accident involved a truck doesn’t mean a trucker caused it. An individual third-party driver may be responsible for your injuries.
Types of Evidence We Can Gather
To build your case and determine who’s responsible for your injuries, a Leesburg truck accident attorney from our team can review the following types of evidence:
- Eyewitness statements
- The police report from the Leesburg Police Department
- Your medical records
- Your expenses
- Input from experts, like crash reconstruction specialists
- Video or images that document the crash
Truck Accident Cases Have a Deadline
If you’re planning to file a truck accident lawsuit in Leesburg, you must consider the Virginia personal injury statute of limitations. This law mandates that:
- You have two years from your date of injury to file a lawsuit.
- You have two years from the date that you lost your loved one to file a lawsuit.
The specifics of these laws are detailed in Va. Code § 8.01-243 and Va. Code § 8.01-244. Keep in mind that the two-year deadline is the general rule. You may have more or less time depending on the specifics of your case.
A truck accident attorney serving Leesburg can keep track of these deadlines. We will gather and submit relevant documentation so you don’t miss your chance to pursue justice.
Get Help from a Leesburg Truck Accident Lawyer Today
A truck accident can leave you feeling angry, scared, and confused about where to turn. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, is here to help. Our Leesburg truck accident attorneys will manage every aspect of your case, fighting for what you deserve.
Call us today to get started with a FREE claim review. Remember, you don’t pay us anything upfront for our help.
Unsure about what to do after a car accident or have questions regarding your auto accident case that remain unanswered? Download our free Virginia Car Accident Guide eBook or contact us online.