Tractor trailer crashes are among the most feared type of auto accident, because of the devastating injuries often associated with them. Not only do drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles hit by big rigs often sustain major trauma, they also miss work and the costs of treatment add up quickly. The entire family struggles with financial stress while also trying to support their loved one through their recovery.
If a trucker acted negligently and caused your Prince William County collision, the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC is here to help. We can work with you to identify the liable party(s) and file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation on your behalf. Call us today at 571-229-1800 for a complimentary consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Prince William County.
Why is compensation so important after a Prince William County truck accident?
When a big rig collides with a smaller passenger car, the size and weight difference between the two vehicles means the trucker driver usually sustains relatively minor injuries while the occupants of the car suffer catastrophic or even fatal injuries.
Some common injuries in a truck accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
- Burns
- Internal injuries
- Amputations
- Compound fractures
- Severe lacerations
All these injuries require immediate medical care and usually necessitate transportation from the accident scene by ambulance or medical helicopter airlift. Once at the hospital, emergency surgery may be necessary to save your life or prevent further damage. Several days in the trauma unit may be necessary, followed by more time spent in a regular hospital room. During this time, you will begin rehabilitation and therapy. Many people then transfer to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.
For those who suffer the most severe injuries, a month or more of inpatient rehabilitation is not unheard of. You may need to relearn to walk, talk, and even feed yourself. Some people will not recover the ability to care for themselves and will require ongoing nursing care. Almost all will continue outpatient therapy after they leave the hospital.
The cost of this treatment can reach $100,000 in the first day alone. Add these escalating costs to the burden of missing work, and you quickly feel the financial weight of suffering serious injuries. This, and the cost of necessary ongoing and future care, makes recovering compensation in a truck accident claim very important.
Who is liable for my Prince William County truck accident injuries?
Truck accidents occur for many different reasons. These include:
- Fatigued drivers who drive too long without rest
- Truck drivers who fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes
- Truckers who get behind the wheel drunk or drugged
- Unsecured or improperly loaded cargo
- Skipped truck inspections or maintenance
- Tire blowouts
- Brake system failures
- Dangerous road designs or poor maintenance
In some of these cases, it is obvious the trucker acted negligently. In other cases, though, it is more difficult to determine where the fault lies. We can help.
It is important to note that even if the truck driver was 100 percent responsible for the accident, he is rarely the only liable party. We can also pursue a claim against the trucking company under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability. This doctrine states that an employer is liable for any negligent actions their employees commit while performing their jobs, such as a trucker who gets behind the wheel after drinking.
In other cases, the trucking company may not be the responsible entity, but rather other parties may have played a role in the accident. For example, imagine the trucking company found an issue with the truck’s braking system and outfitted it with new brakes. They were unaware of a defect in the brakes that caused them to fail, leading to your crash. If we can tie the equipment malfunction back to the brake manufacturer, we can hold it accountable for your injuries and other damages.
How can I prove my case against a trucking company or other corporation?
You do not want to face a trucking company’s legal team on your own. Call us as soon as possible after your Prince William County trucking accident, and we can begin our investigation into your case.
The sooner we can get to work collecting evidence to prove your case, the better off we are. Skid marks and other similar evidence at the accident scene often disappear soon after the accident, and trucking companies are usually quick to repair any damage done to their vehicles.
Another hurdle with truck accident cases we do not encounter with a typical car accident case is the fact that a lot of the evidence is in the possession of the trucking company. Truckers must maintain driving logs, trucking companies must keep maintenance records, and there are mandatory alcohol and drug tests after any big rig crash.
Any one of these items could prove vital in your case, but the trucking company may destroy evidence after a certain period of time. This is another reason it is paramount we act promptly in a truck accident case. We will immediately send a spoliation letter to the trucking company imploring it to preserve the evidence or face sanctions in court.
We also use our resources to call on accident reconstruction experts and other specialists to help us prove liability and provide documentation to support your claim. We can then file a liability claim or personal injury lawsuit against the trucking company or other liable party, and recover compensation based on the full value of your damages.
How much can I recover in my Virginia truck accident case?
Trucking companies and other corporations often have larger insurance policies than an individual driver does, which may allow you to recover full compensation for all your damages including:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Ongoing care costs
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
We collect the documentation to prove your accident-related expenses and other losses and meet with experts who can help us understand the cost of your future care. Only after analyzing all evidence in your case can we give you an estimated value you may receive from your claim. We then aggressively pursue compensation based on this value.
How can I talk to a truck accident attorney in Prince William County for free?
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we offer complimentary initial consultations and handle cases based on contingency. We only collect money from you after we secure a settlement or award in your case.
Our attorney Jim Parrish once represented the big insurance companies, so he knows how to navigate their complicated processes and walk away with the compensation you need and deserve. We only have two years to file a lawsuit so be sure to call us at 571-229-1800 to schedule a consultation today.