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Get Legal Advice About A Connecticut Truck Accident

Accidents involving semi trucks often result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. The lawyers at Williams, Walsh & O'Connor, LLC, in North Haven, Connecticut, have extensive experience helping individuals and families recover optimal compensation in motor vehicle accident cases involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles.

When Serious Injuries Have Occurred

When a semi truck is involved in an accident with a passenger vehicle, there are almost always serious or catastrophic injuries. Brain injuries, spine injuries, paraplegia and wrongful death are not uncommon. We assist the loved ones of individuals who were in fatal truck accidents. In addition, commercial vehicles are highly regulated. Truck drivers and trucking companies must follow strict guidelines established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Our New Haven area lawyers have an in-depth understanding of the state and federal laws that regulate commercial vehicles operating in the state of Connecticut. Our firm regularly works with accident reconstruction experts, medical experts and rehabilitation experts to determine the cause of the accident and the long-term consequences our clients’ injuries will have on them and their family.

Common Causes Of Trucking Accidents

Truck accidents are commonly caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company. Our law firm represents people who have been injured due to the following:

  • Drunk driving
  • Driver fatigue
  • Inexperienced driving
  • Unlicensed driving
  • Unsecured loads
  • Defective truck equipment
  • Tire blowouts
  • Dangerous roads
  • Dangerous or defective trucking equipment

A thorough investigation may reveal the cause of the accident. From there, our firm will pursue compensation on your behalf, holding the trucker or trucking company accountable for its acts of negligence. We frequently work with accident reconstruction experts in the investigation of a case to determine what factors contributed to or caused an accident. We also analyze evidence from the truck’s black box, which holds important data such as speed, brake condition, engine speed and more.

Working To Help You Move Forward After A Tragic Loss

There may be no other experience that is more difficult to bear than the loss of a loved one. But, when your loved one has been taken from you in an accident that was caused by a negligent truck driver, it only adds to the tragedy of the situation. While your thoughts might not turn immediately to the legal implications of your loss, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death attorney who will work to protect your interests.

There are a number of benefits that surviving family members are entitled to seek in a wrongful death case. Our knowledge of trucking accidents and how they can occur allows us to be much more proactive in the process of seeking compensation for your loss.

Among the damages family members are able to seek in relation to these accidents are the following:

  • Hospital and medical bills
  • Funeral expenses
  • The victim’s pain and suffering prior to death
  • Loss of future income
  • Loss of accrued benefits
  • Loss of companionship

We know that no amount of money will ever make up for the loss of your loved one. We only want to do our part to put you in a better situation as you move into this new phase of your life.

What To Do If You Or A Loved One Is Injured By A Delivery Truck

FedEx and UPS truck drivers are paid to move quickly and make deliveries on time. The unfortunate upshot of this emphasis on speed is that other motorists, pedestrians and bikers can be seriously injured. If you or a family member was hit by a FedEx or UPS delivery truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost income, hospital bills, pain and suffering and other significant damages.

There are several important things to do (and not do) if a commercial driver injures you:

  • Seek medical attention. Make sure your injuries are treated by a professional as soon as possible, even if you are not bleeding or in pain. This is important for your health and for your claim.
  • Get as much information as you can. Try to obtain photographs, get driver and vehicle identification, and find witnesses who saw what happened. If possible, do not leave the scene of the accident until this information has been collected.
  • Make sure a police report is filed. Make sure law enforcement comes to the scene and obtains all relevant information.
  • Do not discuss the accident with the truck driver’s insurance company or corporate attorney. These representatives will be looking to build a case against you as a victim. They want to pay as little as possible (preferably nothing) on your claim.

Tractor-Trailer Accidents Caused By Negligence

Tractor-trailer drivers and trucking companies are required to comply with a number of state and federal laws. Failure to obey these laws puts other motorists on the road at risk.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration establishes regulations for truckers and trucking companies. These regulations, as well as various state and federal laws, establish the code of conduct for safe truck driving. When truckers fail to obey these laws and regulations, motorists are put at risk. Some of these laws and regulations apply to alcohol and drug testing, the maximum number of hours driving per day, driver qualifications, commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements, the driver logbook, and more.

Representing People Injured By Tandem And Oversized Trucks

Tandem trucks are relatively new to Connecticut highways. Used by shipping companies and other businesses, tandem trailers allow truckers to carry separate loads at the same time, or extremely large loads. They can also cause accidents on highways because they are less stable and harder to control and stop than single loads carried by standard 18-wheelers. Driver negligence is amplified as the load gets bigger.

A tandem truck or oversized/wide load accident can be catastrophic. Injuries can be life-threatening or fatal. Our firm can advise you regarding your rights. We can answer any questions regarding fatal crashes on Connecticut interstates like 95, 91 and 84 and how the victim’s families can deal with insurance companies or taking their cases to court.

Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers

It is extremely important to quickly hire an experienced accident lawyer. Once hired, our attorneys quickly begin preserving evidence that may otherwise be lost, including driver’s logs and vehicle black boxes that record speed and braking at the time of the accident. In addition, we recognize the importance of obtaining the maintenance records of vehicles involved in accidents as well and the driving record of the truck driver.

If you need a personal injury lawyer for any trucking accident litigation, please contact Williams, Walsh & O'Connor, LLC, in North Haven, Connecticut, for a free initial consultation. Our firm can be reached by phone at 203-896-4631, by email or by filling out the intake form on our Contact page.

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