Getting hit by a commercial truck is one of the most serious types of vehicle collisions, and the injuries you suffer can affect nearly every part of your life. Your Richmond truck accident lawyer with MartinWren, P.C. may be able to help you recover compensation and help you understand what steps to take next.
Founded in 2009, our firm is here to support you after a crash, and your Richmond personal injury lawyer is available to speak with you when you are ready.
What Makes MartinWren, P.C. Different For Handling Truck Accidents?
MartinWren, P.C. is unique among Virginia law firms when it comes to handling truck accident cases.
That is because we have Virginia’s first and only attorney who is board certified in Truck Accident Law. Attorney Bob Byrne got this specialized certification only by passing a specialized bar examination. He also had to obtain numerous references from judges and several attorneys in Virginia to attest to the fact that he handles these cases with skill and expertise. Finally, Bob had to show that he has deep experience handling commercial motor vehicle claims of all types.
This board certification sends a very clear to opposing insurance companies and their attorneys: our firm has deep experience handling significant truck accident claims, and we handle them with impressive results.
Call us today for a free consultation if you have been involved in a truck accident in Richmond, VA.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call (434) 817-3100
How Can MartinWren, P.C. Add Value to a Richmond Truck Accident Case?
We know the law when it comes to truck crashes. In addition, we know and understand the truck industry. Our knowledge includes understanding the unique components of insurance as it applies to the trucking industry.
This will help you in your truck crash case because have the skills, knowledge, and abilities, to increase the value of your injury claim. We can do this by finding parties that could be responsible under obscure trucking laws. In addition, we can find insurance policies for non-parties that may provide additional or excess coverage in your case.
That unique knowledge of federal and state trucking laws will work to your benefit and will increase the value of your case.
We also work with some of the best medical expert witnesses available to prove the full extent of your injuries and how the impact you. Our attorneys will leave no stone unturned. Our firm will spare no expense to prepare the best possible case for you.
Call us today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents
Truck crashes often happen for entirely preventable reasons. Some involve driver error, while others can be traced back to mechanical problems or poor oversight. Common contributing factors include:
- Distracted or fatigued driving
- Speeding or following too closely
- Poor maintenance or skipped inspections
- Improper cargo loading
- Driving under the influence
- Unsafe lane changes or failure to yield
- Company pressure to meet delivery deadlines
- Failing to use extreme caution in hazardous conditions
Each of these factors can affect how fault is assigned and what type of evidence is needed to support the accident victim’s claim. These details can also help counter what insurance companies may argue about liability or the extent of medical treatment needed.
Richmond Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (434) 817-3100
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?
Liability in a truck accident is not always straightforward. More than one party may be responsible or at fault, and the details of the crash often reveal how several people or companies contributed to what happened.
Your Richmond tractor trailer accident lawyer with MartinWren, P.C. can help identify who may be legally responsible and how Virginia’s fault-based liability laws apply to your case. Put our board certified truck crash attorney for work to you to increase the value of your case and to maximize your financial recovery.
Drivers, Companies, and Third Parties
The truck driver is often the first person considered when a crash happens. This is especially true if they were speeding, changing lanes without checking or signaling, losing control of their truck, or driving while tired. However, drivers are not always acting alone.
Sometimes they are under pressure to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines or operate in poor conditions because their company failed to follow safety protocols. They may not be properly trained. Or their truck may have fallen into disrepair and the owner fails to maintain or repair it. If that situations contributed to the crash, the driver’s employer may also be responsible.
Brokers, shippers, logistics companies, repair shops, road construction crews, and other parties may share some blame for a crash. Contact the Richmond Truck Accident Lawyers at MartinWren, P.C. to have experienced lawyers evaluate the proper parties.
When Multiple Parties Share Fault
It is common for more than one party to be at fault in a trucking crash. A driver may have been distracted, but their employer may have failed to train them properly or ignored hours-of-service rules.
Or a third-party contractor may have loaded the truck incorrectly, making it harder to control during a turn. These types of cases require careful review of the facts and timelines.
It may be the case that several parties share responsibility under different theories of liability.
What Insurance Companies Do After a Truck Crash
After a serious truck crash, insurance companies usually act fast. They start gathering information right away and may reach out to you within days. Their goal is to limit what they pay, even while you are still sorting through injuries and medical treatment.
Here are some tactics insurance companies often use:
- Offering fast settlements before medical care is complete
- Asking for a recorded statement right after the crash
- Pressuring you to sign forms without reviewing them
- Minimizing the severity of your injuries
- Delaying communication to wear you down
These strategies can make it harder for an accident victim to get fair compensation. That is why your Richmond truck accident attorney with MartinWren, P.C. steps in to help protect your rights from day one.
Our team handles communications with the insurance company and builds your claim around evidence, expert input, and the full extent of your losses.
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What Accident Victims Need to Know About Virginia’s Laws
Commercial truck accidents are handled differently from many other personal injury cases. State and federal regulations affect how liability is determined, what damages may be available, and how long you have to take legal action.
If you are an accident victim going through medical bills and paperwork, understanding these rules can help you make informed choices.
Fault, Liability, and Contributory Negligence
Virginia uses a fault-based system to determine who is responsible for paying damages in a truck accident claim. Under Code of Virginia § 38.2-117, the insurance company of the party who caused the crash due to negligence is responsible for covering the victim’s losses.
However, Virginia also follows a contributory negligence rule. This means that if the accident victim is found even slightly at fault, they may be barred from recovering any compensation.
Deadlines, Damages, and Filing Requirements
The statute of limitations for filing a truck accident lawsuit in Virginia is generally two years, as outlined in Code of Virginia § 8.01-243. If the crash resulted in a fatality, wrongful death claims may also apply under Code of Virginia § 8.01-50. There may also be noticed periods that apply that are much shorter, so it is important to act quickly.
Certain claims involving government vehicles may also require early notice, so it is important to act quickly and understand what time limits apply to your case.
What Makes Richmond Truck Accidents So Serious
Truck crashes are more than just bigger versions of regular car accidents. A truck’s size, weight, and the momentum it carries often lead to more serious outcomes for everyone involved. For an accident victim, that can mean longer recovery times, higher medical bills, and more legal complexity than expected.
Why Truck Accidents Cause Such Severe Injuries
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh more than 20 times as much as a standard vehicle. When that much weight hits a car at speed, the results are often devastating. The crash may involve multiple vehicles, fires, or complete destruction of the smaller car.
That is why so many accident victims in these situations require emergency care and continued support. If a crash involves more than one driver or causes a chain reaction, your Richmond car accident lawyer may work alongside experts to reconstruct what happened and determine who is legally responsible.
Common Injuries Richmond Drivers Face From Big Rig Crashes
Injury severity often depends on speed, location, and vehicle position, but certain injuries appear frequently in these cases. Common injuries include the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries. Whether the TBI is mild, moderate, or severe, we have experience handling TBI claims of all types. TBI claims are especially common after truck crash claims in light of the massive forces involved. This can result in sensory issues, cognitive problems, emotional dysfunction, and a variety of other deficits.
- Neck and back injuries. The tremendous forces involved in a truck crash can cause a number of serious neck and back injuries. Crashes often cause or aggravate bulging discs, herniated discs, or cause other shifts of vertebrae. This can cause pinched nerves that can result in sciatica, radiculopathy, or other debilitating conditions that cause drastic impacts on the quality of life.
- Spinal cord damage. Trauma to the spine can also cause shifts in the spine that can pinch or even sever the spinal cord. This can result in paralysis or myelopathy, oftentimes requiring immediate surgery.
- Broken bones or fractures. Just about every bone in the body is at risk in a collision involving a large commercial truck. Fractures or breaks of those bones can occur in a semi-truck crash.
- Internal bleeding. The intense trauma of a crash can exert forces that cause internal injuries, including internal bleeding.
- Burns. Burns from fires or chemicals can occur, leading to a long and painful recovery process.
- Emotional distress. Emotional distress, mental anguish, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression can commonly result from a tractor trailer crash.
Accident victims may also suffer whiplash, vision loss, or injuries that lead to amputation or permanent disability. Some people recover quickly, while others face years of medical treatment and life adjustments.
Unfortunately, many truck accidents result in the ultimate consequence: the death of an innocent motorist or pedestrian. Wrongful death claims in Virginia have a number of significant differences from personal injury claims. Our firm is experienced handling truck crashes that result in death and we can help surviving family members.
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How Long Do I Have to Resolve My Truck Accident Case?
It is important to keep in mind that your injury case must be resolved in a certain amount of time. Virginia, like most states, has a statute of limitations that requires that a case be resolved or filed in a lawsuit before a certain time period or else the claim will be forever barred.
The general statute of limitations for a Richmond truck injury claim is two years, pursuant to Virginia Code sec. 8.01-243. There are exceptions to this general rule, such as if the injured party is a minor when they are hurt. It may be the case that the injured party is incapacitated as a result of the crash, and that could suspend the running of the statute of limitations for a period of time.
Even if the truck crash that caused your injuries just happened, please do not wait to contact an experienced Richmond Truck Accident Lawyer. That is because it is critical to act quickly to preserve and obtain evidence that will otherwise be lost if too much time passes. Do not make the mistake of waiting.
Speak With Your Truck Accident Attorney in Richmond Today
It can be difficult to know where to turn after a crash, especially when the injuries are serious and the details are still unfolding. It is confusing after a crash, and that is particularly the case when insurance adjusters keep calling you trying to resolve your case.
Your truck accident lawyer in Richmond from MartinWren, P.C., is here to answer your questions and help you understand what to expect. To get started, contact us now to schedule a free consultation with a team that is ready to support you.
Call (434) 817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
