804-773-3815
Truck Accidents Attorneys in Richmond, Virginia
At Wind Law, LLC, our truck accident lawyer Tappahannock & Richmond, Ryan E. Wind, knows when Virginia residents are involved in a collision with a large truck or commercial vehicle, it is those in the smaller cars, trucks, or SUVs who are going to endure the brunt of the injuries or fatalities associated with these crashes.
The reality is, Virginia trucking accidents are complex events, and numerous parties can be responsible for causing the crash, including truck drivers, trucking companies, freight shippers, cargo loaders, and others.
According to the Virginia Traffic Crash Facts, large trucks and commercial motor vehicles are defined as those with a gross weight greater than 10,000 pounds. Last year throughout Virginia, these large vehicles were involved in 8,645 crashes that resulted in 2,844 injuries and 176 fatalities.
No matter how your truck accident occurred, we want to help you pursue the negligent party, or a combination of parties, for your full financial recovery.
From rural communities to the inner city, our Richmond truck accident attorney and support staff focus on providing compassionate, dedicated, and effective partnerships with our clients — no matter where they live or work in Virginia — so everyone we represent has a genuine opportunity to seek and obtain real results.
At Wind Law, LLC, we represent real people, who need real legal help. Call us today to learn more.
What are the Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Virginia?
It is no secret that traveling alongside semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles can make any driver nervous — no matter how much experience they have behind the wheel.
And it should.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 71% of people killed in large-truck crashes across the nation were occupants of other vehicles. The obvious reason this is true is that semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, giving much smaller passenger vehicles and their occupants little room to escape catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
According to statistics gathered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, alcohol consumption by truck drivers is very rarely a factor in trucking accidents, although it does occur at times.
What the accident reports show is that truck drivers can be guilty of many of the same negligent driving behaviors as other drivers, which may include:
- Distracted driving.
- Improper lane changes.
- Following too close.
- Improper turns.
- Driving too fast for the conditions.
Mistakes by truck drivers can result in catastrophic multi-vehicle pileups and dangerous crashes including tractor-trailer jackknife accidents and rollovers. In addition to these more common negligent driving behaviors, the nature of truck driving and the trucking industry creates several other causes specific to big rigs.
These causes include the following:
- Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck driving, especially long hauls cross-country, can be particularly fatiguing, and the risks of drowsy driving, inattention, and falling asleep at the wheel are very real.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency responsible for regulating commercial motor vehicles to prevent injuries and fatalities related to large truck accidents.
The FMCSA outlines Hours of Service Regulations that limit the number of hours truckers can be behind the wheel without taking breaks.
Truckers can lawfully drive 11 hours per day and be on duty 14 hours per day, driving eight hours straight before taking a 30-minute break, and putting in 60 or 70 hours over seven or eight consecutive days before having to take just 32 hours off.
Many truck drivers ignore those rules and drive even longer, whether on their own initiative or with encouragement from their employers. It is not uncommon to find truck driver logbooks that have been intentionally falsified to hide their noncompliance with the federal hours-of-service rules.
- Trucking Company Negligence
When trucking companies place profits over safety, they often overlook important hiring and driver retention requirements, including failing to conduct background checks or ensure their drivers have the necessary experience or the proper health that can be uncovered in mandated medical exams. In addition, all trucking companies must ensure their drivers are following all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.
- Negligent Truck Maintenance
Annual, pre-announced roadside inspections of commercial vehicles performed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance routinely turn up about one in five trucks that must be immediately pulled from service due to bad tires, bad or missing brake components, malfunctioning coupling devices, nonfunctioning signal lights, and other significant hazards.
Trucking companies have a duty to maintain their fleets in good working order, but many small and large operations alike fail to perform regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs as required by law and basic concern for the safety of others.
- Negligent Cargo Loading
An overloaded semi-truck can cause the tires and brakes to malfunction, while an improperly loaded trailer can lead to a loss of control, jackknife, or rollover. Unsecured loads can come loose and fall out of or off the bed, wreaking havoc on a highway. It is critical for road safety that truck trailers and truck beds be loaded, balanced, and secured correctly, and that truck drivers frequently check their loads and rebalance them as needed. Investigating a trucking accident often requires figuring out whether negligent loading errors caused the crash and which party is responsible, or if several parties are.
Why Do I Need a Richmond Truck Accident Attorney?
Getting hurt or losing a loved one in a Richmond truck accident caused by another person or party’s negligence is a confusing and traumatic time for injury victims and the families of those who were killed.
This is true because each potentially liable party is going to point the finger at the other, and each party’s insurance company will be happy to help muddy the financial recovery waters.
This is not fair to you or your family. We can help.
We will fully investigate the incident that caused your injuries or the loss of your loved one and build your case around the facts and resources available to accurately outline your complete financial recovery needs.
This may include pursuing the liable party, or a combination of parties, for:
- Current and future medical expenses, including surgeries, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
- Current and future lost wages.
- Diminished earning capacity.
- Scarring and disfigurement, including burns, amputations, or dismemberment.
- Pain and suffering caused by physical discomfort, inconvenience, and emotional distress.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder impacts the injured party’s ability to maintain gainful employment and personal relationships.
Our primary goal is to partner with our clients, so they know they have more than a trusted legal advisor by their side, but a friend who is pursuing their best interests. With 15 years of experience, our highly skilled Richmond truck accident attorney connects with our communities and the people who live in them to pursue the financial outcome they deserve.
Understanding the Impact of Trucking Accidents in Virginia
Trucking accidents are less frequent than crashes involving just passenger cars, but they still occur by the thousands in Virginia every year. In 2021, there were 4,953 commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes, which accounted for 4.2% of all traffic crashes. Injuries were present in 1,783 of the collisions, and 104 of the crashes involved a fatality, but only 20 CMV occupants were killed; the vast majority of fatal crash victims were in the smaller car hit by the truck. A CMV is defined as a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight over 10,000 pounds, one that is designed or used to transport nine or more people, or a vehicle displaying a hazardous materials placard.
Large truck crashes, meanwhile, were involved in 2,645 accidents, accounting for 2.2% of all traffic crashes and resulting in injury in 784 cases. A large truck is defined as a tractor-trailer, semi, or double-trailer. There were 52 fatal large truck crashes in Virginia in 2021, with occupants in large trucks accounting for six of the fatalities.
Trucking accidents are complex events, and numerous parties can be responsible for causing the crash, including drivers, trucking companies, freight shippers, cargo loaders, and others. Richmond personal injury attorney Ryan Wind helps victims of trucking accidents determine the appropriate liable party or parties and hold them accountable for the full amount of damages caused, including the victim’s medical expenses, loss of income or earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a loved one were hurt in a Virginia trucking accident, contact our Richmond truck accident lawyers at Wind Law, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss your claims.
At Wind Law, LLC We Also Representing The Following Legal Services:
- ATV Accidents
- Back Injuries
- Bicycle Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Broken Accidents
- Broken Bones
- Burn Injuries
- Car Accidents
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Construction Accidents
- Construction Zone Accidents
- Defective Product Injuries
- Dog Bite and Animal Attacks
- E-Scooter Accidents
- GRTC Bus Accidents
- Head on Collisions
- Hit and Run Accidents
- Motorcycle Accident
- Wrongful Death
Truck Accident Resources:
- Tractor Trailer Jackknife Accidents
- Negligent Trailer Loading
- Negligent Truck Maintenance
- Truck Driver Hours Of Service
Contact Our Skilled Truck Accident Attorney in Richmond, Virginia For Help Today
For 15 years, our truck accident lawyer in Richmond & Tappahannock has developed successful outcomes for our fellow Virginians, whom he calls “some of the best clients an attorney could ask for.”
Our clients, in their own words, applaud Ryan, not just for his work ethic and the results he attains, but also for his honest, caring, and supportive nature. We can help produce the same meaningful results for you and your family.
Contact our dedicated personal injury lawyer in Richmond, Virginia today by calling 804-773-3815 or online to discuss your important case during a free consultation. We want to hear your story, so we can ensure your voice is heard, and work diligently to see that you are treated fairly and get justice in your case.
