Skilled Truck Accident Attorney In Norwalk, CT
Being hit by a commercial truck in Norwalk often leaves victims with devastating, if not fatal, injuries. Victims and their families can also face overwhelming financial loss and uncertainty regarding the future. From 18-wheeler crashes that happen along Interstate 95 or U.S. Route 7 to collisions on busy local roadways like Connecticut Avenue and Westport Avenue, these cases are complicated, and you need an experienced Norwalk truck accident lawyer on your side.
Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC: Your Commercial Trucking Accident Lawyers
With over 150 years of combined legal experience, the team at Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC is here to serve you. We are proud to be one of Connecticut’s leading law firms when it comes to personal injury cases, and we are familiar with settling these cases outside of court, but we aren’t afraid of taking your case to trial when necessary. We have recovered millions on behalf of clients, and while results cannot guarantee future outcomes, we are here for you today.
Why Do Commercial Trucking Accidents Happen?
In 2023, Connecticut experienced 1,736 accidents involving large commercial trucks. With around 72.4% of American freight being transported by commercial trucks, there is a high number of these vehicles on the roadway, which, in turn, results in more accidents.
When you are injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, it is important to understand the exact cause behind the accident, as this can help your attorney better pinpoint who to hold liable for compensation. Over the years, our firm has handled Norwalk truck accident cases that have resulted from the following causes:
- Speeding or other forms of reckless driving
- Poor or inadequate driver training
- Mechanical defects with the truck
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Weather conditions, such as snow, ice, wind, and rain
- Overweight or improperly loaded cargo, which has accounted for around 65% of all trucking accidents
- Poor roadway conditions, such as potholes or loose gravel
- Overinflated or underinflated tires
When any kind of negligence is involved in your truck accident, you deserve compensation. Truck drivers and their employers are held to strict federal trucking regulations, and when they ignore these regulations, you deserve justice.
What to Do Following a Truck Accident in Norwalk
If you find yourself in the confusing and terrifying aftermath of a commercial trucking accident in Norwalk, it is your job to protect yourself. You cannot trust your insurance company, and you cannot trust the trucking company. For these reasons, it is important that you take the following steps:
- Call the police. It is essential that you report the accident to the police by dialing 911 at the scene of the accident. If you or any passengers are suffering severe injuries, dialing 911 can also get emergency medical services to the scene.
- Collect information. It is important that you collect information from the at-fault truck driver, including their name, their truck number, the name of their trucking company, their insurance information, their driver’s license number, and their license plate number. It is important that, in exchange, you give them your information as well, even if you were not at fault.
- Gather evidence. If you have the physical capability, it is important that you take photos and videos of the accident scene and also of your injuries or any injuries of any passengers. You should also attempt to gather any contact information for eyewitnesses.
- Seek medical care. Even if you do not feel physically injured, it is important that you still get checked out by a medical professional. Take yourself to the nearest emergency room, explain that you were just in an accident, and let a doctor evaluate for any invisible damage.
- Contact a lawyer. Lastly, you need to contact a lawyer. Before you make any contact with your insurance company, speak to an attorney who understands Norwalk truck accident laws and who can offer you the legal assistance you need.
FAQs
Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
A: While you are not legally required to hire a truck accident lawyer in Norwalk, having one by your side during a personal injury claim can make all the difference when it comes to recovering the compensation you deserve. Your Norwalk truck accident attorney is here to investigate the accident, preserve all related evidence, and either negotiate for a fair settlement or bring the case to court.
Q: What Is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?
A: The worth of your truck accident claim likely hinges on the extent and severity of your injuries. For example, you are likely able to recover more compensation for a traumatic brain injury than you are for a simple broken or fractured wrist. In truck accident claims, compensation for all related medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering is likely available to you.
Q: Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident in Connecticut?
A: In a Connecticut truck accident, there are actually a number of parties who can be held liable, which is one of the reasons these accidents are often more complicated than ordinary passenger vehicle accidents. In a truck accident, parties like the truck driver themselves, the trucking company, the loading company, or a third-party repair company can all be held liable, depending on the cause of the accident.
Q: What Are Truck “No-Zones”?
A: Commercial trucks, like 18-wheelers, are large vehicles, and due to their size, they have a number of blind spots where the driver of the truck cannot see who or what is on the roadway around them. These blind spots are also referred to as “no-zones” and typically include both sides of the truck’s cargo trailer and the rear of the trailer.
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
When the time comes to hire a truck accident lawyer in Norwalk, the team at Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC is here to serve you and protect your rights to compensation. We know this is a difficult time for you and your family, and we want to do whatever we can to ease some of the burden you are feeling. Whether we are at the negotiation table or in the courtroom, we are fully prepared to obtain results. Contact our offices today to schedule your free consultation.
