Fault in Truck Accident Claims

Motor vehicle accidents are known for being severe. It is not uncommon for people involved in car accidents to suffer from debilitating injuries, including traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, back injuries, loss of limbs, paralysis, and more. 

Truck accidents, in particular, are known for producing catastrophic or even life-threatening injuries or death. If you were involved in a truck accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. But in order to be sure you can get the money you deserve, you might need a truck accident law firm in Virginia advocating for your right to full compensation. 

At this point, you’re probably wondering who is going to cover your losses and repay you for your suffering. In order to find out, your attorney will need to open up a thorough investigation into the details of your case. This will reveal who is at fault for your accident and ultimately responsible for compensating you for your losses. 

Negligent Drivers

The most common cause of any truck accident is driver negligence. This could be the fault of the truck driver, another involved driver, or you may even share fault for causing the accident. There are many different driving habits that are unsafe. Some of the ones most known for causing severe truck accidents include:

  • Speeding 
  • Following too closely
  • Failure to use a turn signal
  • Failure to yield
  • Failure to stop
  • Drunk driving
  • Drugged driving
  • Driving while fatigued
  • Distracted driving
  • Other types of reckless driving

If you believe you might be partially at fault for your truck accident, it is important to act quickly. Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state. This means victims who share fault are barred from recovering financial compensation. You’ll need an experienced attorney to help you avoid having unwarranted blame placed on you. Otherwise, your injury settlement will be on the line. 

Dram Shops

Dram shops are establishments that serve or sell alcohol. When a consumer is over served alcohol or sold alcohol when they were already under the influence of alcohol, these establishments could be held accountable. 

Your attorney will need to be able to show the dram shop knew the liable party was intoxicated when they provided them with additional alcohol. This can be difficult to prove, as it is unlikely a bartender would ever admit to over serving a patron or risk facing termination or fines. 

Dangerous Roads

Dangerous road conditions are another common cause of truck accidents. Missing street signs or street lamps, unsecured road construction zones, and broken pavement or potholes can cause devastating truck accidents in Virginia. We may file a claim against the government agency responsible for road maintenance and safety if hazardous road conditions caused your trucking accident.

Defective Parts 

Faulty or defective vehicle parts could have caused your trucking accident as well. Normally when a part is faulty or malfunctions, the automaker should issue a recall. Then, consumers can get the part repaired or replaced free of charge. But companies don’t like to issue recalls unless absolutely necessary as doing so will damage their reputation and cost them money. Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate to uncover the truth. Some of the different parties who could be found liable for your truck accident if it was caused by defective parts include:

  • Automakers
  • Auto parts manufacturers
  • Vehicle technicians
  • Safety inspectors
  • Car dealerships

It is also possible that multiple parties played a part in your injuries. In the event several parties contributed to your truck accident, your lawyer will ensure each of them are named as liable in your Virginia truck accident claim.