Chesapeake Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial vehicles, tractor trailers, and construction vehicles are large vehicles with the potential to cause severe accidents. As such, truck drivers must be sure they follow the rules of the road and drive responsibly to keep others around them safe.

If truck drivers drive recklessly and cause accidents, they can be held responsible for any injuries resulting from an accident. If deemed at fault, the truck driver’s insurance company can be forced to pay compensation to the injured party for their medical bills, lost wages from time away from work, and loss of quality of life.

A Chesapeake truck accident lawyer can help those injured by a truck driver’s negligence by filing a robust claim for compensation. Our experienced personal injury attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can demonstrate the negligence of both truck drivers and their parent companies to hold them responsible for the damages.

When a Trucker is at Fault

All drivers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of all other people on the road. This means that truckers have a responsibility to protect other drivers and passengers in all other vehicles, bicyclists, motorcycle riders, and pedestrians. In fact, commercial truck drivers as professionals may own even greater duties than other drivers.

If an injured person can prove that a trucker’s actions breached this duty and caused bodily injuries, that trucker and their insurer will be responsible to pay the injured person compensation. This type of claim is known as a negligence claim and involves proving the careless or reckless actions of the trucker. Typical examples of negligence include:

  • Speeding
  • Failing to yield
  • Texting while driving
  • Improper lane changes
  • Following too closely

A Chesapeake truck accident lawyer can help clients gather key evidence that demonstrates a trucker’s negligence and helps the victim get money for the harm and losses suffered from the wreck.

Holding a Trucking Company Vicariously Liable

While some truck drivers own and operate their own vehicles, others are employees in the service of freight companies. When this is the case, the trucking company will typically share joint responsibility for any injuries caused by their employees acting in the scope of their employment.

Some actions taken by the trucking company are negligent on their own. For example, federal laws prohibit truckers from being on the road for more than a certain number of hours in a day and in a week. If a trucking company schedules a driver for more than the maximum allowable hours, that trucking company will be considered negligent in an injury case.

Companies may also be negligent if they overload the vehicle. There is a maximum weight limit on federal highways based upon the number of axles on a vehicle. If this overloading contributes to an accident, the trucking company may be held responsible.

Talk to a Chesapeake Truck Accident Attorney

The prospect of filing a personal injury claim against a truck driver and their delivery company may be intimidating. You may not feel you have the resources or the time to properly pursue your case, between recovering your health and dealing with financial issues caused by medical bills and lost wages.

Skilled attorneys can take the lead in your claim to get you the compensation you deserve. The team at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can help you prove that the truck driver in your accident was at fault and, therefore, is legally obligated to provide payment for your injuries. If you were injured in a collision with a commercial truck, contact a Chesapeake truck accident lawyer today. They could use various legal strategies to advocate for your right to fair compensation.

Call (757) 455-0077 to request a free consultation