Meriden Truck Accident Lawyer

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Truck Accident Attorney In Meriden, CT

Meriden is situated close to I-691 and State Route 5, two major trucking routes in Connecticut. Most drivers in the area are used to seeing commercial trucks on the roads, and while accidents involving these vehicles are less common than passenger vehicle accidents, they can be incredibly damaging. If you have been hurt in this type of accident, you need to talk to a Meriden truck accident lawyer at your first opportunity.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Truck Accident Claims in Meriden, CT

The time after a commercial truck accident can be more difficult to resolve than a standard car accident case, so it’s important to have skilled legal counsel on your side to help with your recovery. The team at Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, has over 150 combined years’ experience handling personal injury cases for clients in Meriden and throughout New Haven County, so we are confident we possess the experience you need on your side.

The initial aftermath of any vehicle accident in Meriden can be confusing. You may have suffered severe injuries, and it’s possible that you have no recollection of the event. You may wonder how the accident happened, who is to blame, and how you can recover your losses. In the face of expensive medical bills and further economic strain from an inability to work, it’s vital to connect with trustworthy legal counsel as soon as you can to start building your case.

Do not attempt to resolve the legal aftermath of a commercial truck accident on your own. Even if you think the fault for the accident is clear, the actual process of proving liability and recovering compensation for your damages is likely to be far more challenging than you expect. Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, can provide compassionate and results-driven legal counsel through all stages of your case, from proving fault to collecting compensation for your losses.

Talk To An Attorney Free Consultation

To schedule a free initial consultation, contact us online or call 203-902-6128. We are located near New Haven, in proximity to Interstate 91, Interstate 95 and Interstate 84. If your injury prevents you from coming to us, we will meet with you in another location.

Call For a Consultation 203-234-6333

Building Your Truck Accident Case in Meriden

According to the National Safety Council, there were 5,375 large trucks involved in fatal crashes throughout the United States in 2023, and another 114,552 large trucks were involved in accidents resulting in nonfatal injuries. The vast majority of injured victims of commercial truck accidents are occupants of other, smaller vehicles, and these accidents can generate disputes regarding fault.

It’s possible for multiple parties to share fault for a truck accident, and it is also possible for a trucking company or other employer to share fault for the actions of their employee. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict safety regulations for the trucking industry. If a business violates these regulations in a way that contributes to an accident, the company could be liable for the resulting damages.

FMCSA regulates motor carriers, including commercial trucks as well as large buses, and all companies subject to FMCSA regulation must follow these rules carefully at all times. The Connecticut Crash Data Repository has recorded 6,066 FMCSA-qualifying crashes throughout the state between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2025. Of these, 133 occurred in Meriden and involved 375 people.

The first challenge in building a commercial truck accident case in Meriden is proving fault. You must identify the party or parties responsible for causing the accident and prove how they caused it in order to hold them accountable for your damages. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in the Meriden area include speeding, moving violations, distracted driving, trucking industry regulatory noncompliance, and improperly loaded cargo.

Your Meriden truck accident lawyer at Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, can gather any evidence you may need to prove liability, such as police reports, trucking company documentation, digital evidence, and witness statements.

It is important to note that Connecticut enforces a modified comparative fault statute, meaning if a plaintiff is found partially liable for causing their claimed damages, they will have a fault percentage assigned. As long as their percentage is lower than the defendant’s, they can still recover compensation, but their fault percentage is deducted from the case award. If they are found more at fault than the defendant, they are barred from recovery.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for a Commercial Truck Accident

Every driver in Connecticut must have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. When a covered driver causes a crash, their insurance can pay for the resulting damages up to the coverage limits of the policy.

Most trucking companies and their drivers are covered by commercial auto insurance policies that provide greater coverage than the average individual policy. However, it does not mean you should expect insurance to fully cover your losses or for filing your claim to be easy. Most insurance companies will do everything they can to minimize claim payouts whenever possible, looking for ways to justify devaluing or denying claims whenever they can.

You should not attempt to negotiate an auto insurance claim without speaking with an attorney. The insurance company representative is trained to use your own words against you whenever they see an opportunity to do so. It is vital to remember that insurance companies aim to resolve claims for as little as possible or deny them whenever they find justification to do so.

Having an experienced Meriden truck accident lawyer helping with your claim will significantly improve your chances of reaching a fair settlement offer with the insurer. Your attorney can make sure that your claim is handled in good faith and that the insurance carrier’s settlement offer is fair and reasonable. If any disputes arise, your attorney can be ready to resolve them for you.

Recovering Compensation With a Personal Injury Case

You may need to file a personal injury case to recover your damages, and in this situation, you need experienced legal counsel on your side to have the greatest chance of success. In any personal injury case, the injured plaintiff will need to gather sufficient evidence to prove fault for their claimed damages. They must also be ready to prove that the defendant is directly responsible for causing those damages.

The objective of a personal injury case is for the injured plaintiff to secure the compensation they need to recover as much as possible from the injury the defendant caused. They may have suffered economic and non-economic losses, and their Meriden truck accident lawyer can help them accurately calculate these losses and add them to their claim.

Once you have proven liability for your truck accident, you can claim compensation for the financial losses the defendant inflicted. You will need to prove that any claimed damages listed in your personal injury claim are the direct result of the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. You may be eligible to claim compensation for:

  • Vehicle repair or replacement costs. You can also seek compensation for any of your personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident.
  • Medical treatment costs. The defendant is liable for the cost of any medical care you may need to reach maximum medical improvement from your injuries. This could include the cost of any necessary future care if you sustained a severe injury that requires ongoing treatments.
  • Lost wages. The victim of a truck accident may be unable to work for an extended time, in which case the defendant is liable for the income the plaintiff is unable to earn while they recover.
  • Lost earning power. When the defendant is unable to return to work in the future due to the severity of their injuries, their attorney can potentially help them recover compensation for their lost future earning capacity.

Your case could yield more compensation for economic damages than you may have initially expected, but you need a seasoned attorney on your side to maximize your recovery. Your attorney can also help you maximize your pain and suffering compensation. Connecticut law allows a personal injury plaintiff to seek compensation for the physical pain and psychological suffering a defendant caused.

Many commercial truck accidents result in life-changing injuries. You could face permanent disability, an inability to work and earn income, or you may be completely unable to live independently in the future due to your injuries. Whatever your situation requires, an experienced Meriden truck accident lawyer from Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, can be an invaluable asset to have on your side as your case unfolds.

What to Expect From Your Meriden Truck Accident Lawyer

The right attorney can have a tremendous positive impact on the outcome of your truck accident case in Meriden. When you choose Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, to represent you, we can immediately begin gathering any evidence you may need to prove liability for your damages and recover compensation. We can help you navigate the complex legal proceedings that often arise in the time after commercial truck accidents in Connecticut.

You have limited time to build your case. Some evidence you must have to prove liability for your damages may only be available for a short time, and you will need an attorney’s help to recover it as swiftly as possible. Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, is ready to help you with every stage of your case. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Meriden truck accident lawyer to learn more about the legal services we provide.