Reston Truck Accident Lawyer
Even without any cargo, a semi-truck pulling an empty trailer generally weighs about 35,000 pounds and stretches about 70 to 80 feet long. Loaded up with cargo, that weight increases to a federally mandated maximum of 80,000 pounds, or 18 or 25 times the weight of a typical commuter car—and more than heavy enough to cause immense harm to anyone operating or occupying a vehicle it collides with.
If you were hurt because a truck driver, trucking company, or other third party negligently caused a crash, a conversation with a Reston truck accident lawyer may be in your best interests. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney who knows how to handle cases like this could be a critically important ally as you fight for the compensation you deserve from the party or parties responsible for harming you.
Establishing Fault for Specific Losses
Just like other motor vehicle drivers, truckers can bear civil liability for wrecks they cause through their own careless behavior or reckless violation of roadway regulations. In many circumstances, though, it is better for an injured plaintiff to file suit against the trucking company who hired that negligent driver, as they may bear vicarious liability for their employee’s actions and generally have a far greater financial capacity to cover the substantial losses an accident of this nature can produce.
Sometimes, trucking companies may even be directly responsible for the circumstances leading up to a truck wreck—for example, if they forced one of their drivers to stay on the road past when federal driving time regulations required them to pull over and rest. Even third parties like mechanics, suppliers, and loaders might be liable if their failure to perform their jobs diligently results in a truck not being in acceptable operating condition.
Regardless of who bears liability for a particular incident, working with legal counsel can be crucial to effectively pursuing recovery for all compensable losses. A skilled Reston truck accident attorney could help demand restitution for, among other forms of harm:
- Medical expenses for past and future care
- Car replacement costs
- Lost work income and/or income earning capacity
- Physical and emotional pain
- Lost consortium with a spouse
- Lost enjoyment of personal opportunities
How Contributory Fault Impacts Truck Accident Recovery
Unfortunately, proving someone else primarily liable for causing a truck accident to occur is not enough by itself to guarantee compensation for the party filing suit. This is because civil courts in Virginia follow a “pure contributory negligence” approach when adjudging the percentage of fault a plaintiff bears for their own damages.
Under this system, no one who bears any fault whatsoever for their truck accident injuries can recover any compensation for them, even if someone else bore the majority of the total fault. Given how low the bar is for disqualifying a truck wreck victim in Reston from civil recovery, working with a seasoned lawyer who knows how to counter allegations of this nature is almost always essential to securing a favorable case result.
Talk to a Reston Truck Accident Attorney Today
Getting a positive outcome from litigation against a trucking company can be a tall order, especially if you have little past experience with personal injury law. Fortunately, help is available from dedicated legal representatives who will not be deterred by time-wasting, low-ball settlement offers, and other bad-faith negotiating tactics.
Getting in touch with a Reston truck accident lawyer could be the most important move you make to preserve your rights and interests after a serious incident like this. Call today to learn more.
