A motor vehicle’s passengers are typically hurt far more severely in truck accidents than the trucker. Most cars weigh only about 1.5 tons, whereas tractor-trailer trucks can weigh as much as 40 tons, and all that extra size and weight makes a big difference. An automobile driver may suffer severe injuries from a collision with a big rig or other commercial truck, resulting in permanent or lengthy disability.

You need the assistance of a Richmond truck accident lawyer from AutoAcccident.com if you have been injured in a trucking collision to get the compensation you deserve to cover your medical needs and expenses. Our injury lawyers put our clients first and work hard to help them recover justice and compensation so they can spend their time concentrating on getting well without the financial worries of high medical expenses and lost time at work. You are welcome to call us for free and friendly advice from one of our lawyers at (510) 631-0200 or (800) 404-5400.

Commercial truck accidents can be complicated, and multiple parties may be liable when a collision injury occurs. In addition to the driver, the owner of the trucking company and the manufacturer may be at fault for an accident. Even a government entity may be liable if the accident was caused by dangerous road conditions. In addition, truck drivers and the companies that employ them carry extensive insurance policies and probably won’t be generous when offering compensation for your injuries.

The average big rig measures 72 feet long, weighs 80,000 pounds fully loaded, and is 13 feet tall. When a big rig is traveling at 60 mph, it takes 370 feet to get it to a complete stop. In addition, big rigs experience types of accidents that aren’t seen in motor vehicles, such as:

• Blind spot accidents: Big rigs have blind spots all the way around. The driver cannot see 20 feet in front, so if a passenger vehicle is right in front, they are invisible to the driver. On the left, the blind spot extends from the trucker’s mirror to about three-quarters of the length of the trailer in the left-hand lane. The right-hand side is even worse. It extends out two lanes and past the end of the trailer, so passing a semi on the right-hand side can be extremely dangerous.
• Overloaded or badly loaded cargo: If a big rig trailer is overloaded or unevenly distributed, it can lead to a rollover accident in which other, smaller vehicles are impacted.
• Override/underride collisions: Among the most dangerous of traffic accidents, an override occurs when the big rig passes over a vehicle in front of it. An underride occurs when a smaller vehicle passes underneath a big rig. These accidents frequently cause traumatic injuries and fatalities.
• Braking accidents: Brake failure in a big rig is commonly caused by a lack of maintenance. It can also happen when the trucker brakes hard, and they catch on fire and burn out. Because replacing the brakes on a big rig is expensive, some truckers disable the ones in the tractor portion and instead depend on those on the trailer to stop.
• Jackknifing: A jackknife occurs when the pulled trailer moves faster than the tractor. This type of accident can occur due to bad weather conditions or the driver using the wrong brakes.
• Wide turns: Big commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers and dump trucks must turn wide around a corner. They can collide with vehicles in the next lane by swinging wide.

Truck drivers and companies that employ them are often negligent in causing accidents involving large commercial vehicles. A Richmond truck accident lawyer can help you if you have been injured in an accident due to negligence, which may include:

• Driver training: Due to the lack of truck drivers nationwide, some companies may hire truckers with little or no experience. Commercial trucks handle differently and require special considerations, which can be problematic, such as knowing how to use the brakes properly and drive with such large no-zones. This increases the likelihood of a trucking accident for an inexperienced driver.
• Drug use: Although few truckers drink alcohol while driving, some use drugs to keep them awake and alert while traveling long distances. In addition to affecting a driver’s reflexes and vision, drugs can affect their ability to use clear judgment. Your Richmond truck accident lawyer can help establish your compensation claim when drug use causes an accident.
• Speeding: Driving at high speeds is one of the major causes of accidents, especially if a traffic jam or insufficient time is allowed for the trip.
• Fatigued driving: The long hours of driving may cause fatigue to truck drivers, as they spend much of their time on the road. Sometimes, the company will press the driver to make a delivery as quickly as possible, causing stress and fatigue.
• Distracted driving: A trucker can easily get distracted while driving after extended periods on the road by texting, fiddling with the radio, or staring off into the distance. This is a risk factor for accidents.
• Poor maintenance: Defective brakes, tires, accelerators, or steering can cause a trucking accident. In some cases, this may be the fault of the truck driver. In others, it may be negligence by the company that employs the driver.

A background check and an alcohol and drug test are required as part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Act’s regulations. A trucker’s driving hours are regulated, as are their rest periods and breaks between driving. A vehicle inspection is also required before the truck can travel on the road, as well as a load check. The driver and company that employs the at-fault trucker can be held responsible if these regulations have been violated. If you want to make a strong claim for damages, you will need the assistance of a Richmond truck accident lawyer.

You can seek compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering by hiring a truck accident lawyer in Richmond. Our experienced investigators immediately go to the truck accident scene to collect evidence supporting your injury claim. During the investigation, they review the police report for inaccuracies and speak with witnesses. Investigators look at the driver’s logbook to determine if there is any obvious sign of cheating or disobeying state and federal regulations. We will check maintenance records to determine whether negligence played a role in the accident.

A reconstruction of the accident is conducted, looking for traffic and business surveillance cameras that could have captured footage of the crash. As soon as our lawyers have gathered all the evidence, we get to work building a solid case on behalf of our client. Providing evidence to the insurance company will enable us to negotiate on your behalf or prepare a case to present in civil court for the best possible outcome.

I’m Ed Smith, a Richmond truck accident lawyer. Accidents involving a big commercial truck often cause traumatic injuries. Our injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com have free and friendly advice to offer you about placing a claim to recover compensation when you call us at (510) 631-0200. We can also be reached online or at (800) 404-5400. We would happily schedule a free virtual or in-person consultation to review your claim, discuss options to recover compensation, and answer your questions. You can review our track record on some of the cases we’ve settled on our verdicts and settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 10.17.23] Photo attribution: Image by falco from Pixabay cd [1323]}