Crashes involving large trucks like big rigs, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers differ from other kinds of motor vehicle accident cases in a number of key ways. For example, due to the disparities between the sizes, weights, and power capabilities of commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, the injuries and damages sustained in truck accidents—usually by the occupants of the smaller, lighter vehicles—tend to be significant. As a result, so do the resulting personal injury settlements or financial awards.
Were you hurt in a West Virginia truck crash caused by another person or company's negligence? You may be entitled to compensation. Unfortunately, obtaining a fair recovery in a truck accident case can be challenging. You have to identify the liable party out of a field of potential defendants and may even find yourself going head-to-head with a trucking company's savvy corporate counsel. Not only that, but truck crash personal injury law is complex and the insurance companies are not your friend.
Sound like a nightmare? It can be. Fortunately, we can help. Here's what you need to know before taking legal action in a West Virginia truck accident case.
Vehicles Involved in Truck Crashes
Truck crash cases can involve any of these vehicles:
- Semi-trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- 18-wheelers
- Big rigs
- Refrigerated trucks
- Box trucks
- Garbage trucks or dump trucks
- Firetrucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Concrete mixers
- Mobile cranes
- Tank trucks
- Logging trucks
Common Causes of West Virginia Truck Accidents
Most truck crashes are preventable, with very few being truly unforeseen or unavoidable events. Though negligence is the underlying cause of the vast majority of accidents, people often wonder what negligence looks like in a truck crash case.
Here are just a few examples of negligence-related truck accident causes:
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
- Improper trucking company hiring practices
- Insufficient commercial driver training
- Inadequate truck driver supervision
- Poor truck maintenance
- Brake or tire defects
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Inadequately secured cargo
- Unrealistic commercial driver schedules and/or expectations
Our experienced attorney can investigate your truck accident case to help determine both cause and faults.
Damages Available for Truck Accident Victims
The injuries and damages sustained in a West Virginia truck crash can be catastrophic. In the aftermath of an accident, victims may be severely injured and facing a long recovery, temporarily or permanently unable to work, and struggling to keep up with medical bills and household expenses. However, victims who take legal action can seek compensation for a broad range of economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- All medical expenses related to the truck crash (including medical-related travel expenses and the cost of future care for ongoing injuries)
- Repair or replacement costs for property damaged in the accident
- Wages lost due to crash-related work absences
- Lost of earning potential, if your injuries prevent you from working or require you to take a lower-paying job
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In extreme cases, a judge or jury may award punitive damages to punish the at-fault party for particularly heinous conduct.
Potentially Liable Parties
The truck driver may not be the only one to blame for an accident. Other potentially liable parties include:
- The trucking company
- The owner of the truck
- The individual or company that leased the truck
- Mechanics entrusted with maintaining the truck
- Cargo shippers or loaders
- Truck parts manufacturers
Consult a Skilled West Virginia Truck Accident Attorney
Hurt in a devastating truck crash? Attorney William “Ty” Nestor can help you understand your rights, explore your options for compensation, and fight for the fair financial recovery you're counting on. Contact the Nestor Law Office today to schedule an appointment for a free initial case consultation. Don't wait—the state's statute of limitations law restricts how long you have to file.
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