Truck Accident Attorney in Roanoke
When a tractor-trailer crashes into a typical passenger car, the results can be devastating. These wrecks often leave victims with life-changing injuries or worse. Even when it’s clear the truck driver caused the crash, pursuing full and fair compensation can be full of obstacles. Trucking companies and their insurers fight hard to protect themselves and their money.
That’s where our Roanoke truck accident lawyers can help. At Lichtenstein Law Group, we have more than 30 years of experience in protecting the rights of individuals and families who have suffered harm due to the negligence of others in truck accidents, including crashes along I-81 in Virginia. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.
Why Choose Lichtenstein Law Group For Your Truck Accident Case?
Since our founding in 1992, Lichtenstein Law Group has protected the rights of individuals and families harmed by others’ negligence. With nearly 100 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys:
- Understand the state and federal regulations that govern the trucking industry
- Know how to preserve, collect, and analyze evidence that can play a critical role in truck accident-related personal injury and wrongful death claims, including truckers’ logs, black box data, and footage from dashcams and other cameras
- Identify all potentially liable parties and deal directly with their insurance companies and legal teams
- Prepare your case for trial while building a solid case to present on your behalf aimed at seeking maximum compensation for you
Family is important to our law firm. We have two generations of lawyers on our legal team – founding attorney John E. Lichtenstein and his son, Jacob. We treat our clients like family as well, providing highly skilled legal guidance and representation and the personal attention they need during one of the toughest moments of their lives.
Don’t let the deep pockets of a large trucking company or insurance carrier intimidate you. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, Lichtenstein Law Group will put every resource at our disposal into your fight to hold the at-fault parties accountable.
Why Truck Accidents Can Be More Severe than Other Accidents
Not every truck accident lawyer in Roanoke has the ability or the capacity to handle a truck accident lawsuit. At Lichtenstein Law Group, our practice is built on handling these types of complex personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Our decades of experience in handling Virginia truck accident cases give our legal team valuable insights into what it takes to pursue compensation. We know to prepare for an intense battle because:
- A lot of money is on the line – Because of the severity of the injuries that typically occur in tractor-trailer crashes, the amount of compensation at stake in a truck accident settlement or verdict may be significant. The more money on the line, the harder trucking companies and insurance companies try to avoid making a payout.
- The crash may involve violations of state and federal trucking regulations – Our knowledgeable truck crash attorneys understand the ins and outs of complex trucking industry regulations. We can shine the spotlight on any violations of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules that may have contributed to your crash.
- A vast amount of evidence must be thoroughly reviewed – Our legal team will act quickly to preserve evidence before it gets lost or destroyed. We will also have the resources and experience to evaluate every piece of relevant information we pull from the truck’s data recorder and the driver’s log, as well as other types of evidence. Sifting through this much evidence can be time-consuming, but we believe it is imperative for building a strong case for maximum compensation.
What Are Common Types of Truck Accidents?
Crashes involving large commercial trucks are different due to their size, weight, and limited maneuverability. Some of the most common types of truck accidents in Roanoke and across Virginia include:
- Head-on collisions – These crashes occur when a truck crosses into oncoming traffic and strikes another vehicle from the front. This type of crash often results in catastrophic or even fatal injuries due to the combined force of both vehicles.
- Jackknife accidents – A jackknife happens when a truck’s trailer swings outward and folds toward the cab at a sharp angle, often sweeping across multiple lanes and leaving other drivers with nowhere to go.
- Underride and override crashes – In an underride crash, a smaller car slides beneath the rear or side of a truck trailer, while an override crash occurs when a truck climbs over the top of a smaller vehicle in front of it.
- Wide-turn accidents – Because large trucks need extra room to complete turns, they sometimes swing into adjacent lanes or onto sidewalks, striking vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians alongside them.
- Brake failure accidents – When a truck’s braking system malfunctions due to poor maintenance or defective parts, the driver may lose the ability to slow or stop, turning the vehicle into an uncontrollable hazard.
- Rear-end collisions – A fully loaded truck traveling at highway speeds requires a much greater distance to stop than a passenger car. When a truck driver fails to slow down in time, the results can be devastating.
- Blind-spot accidents – Trucks have large blind spots along both sides, the rear, and directly in front of the cab. When a driver changes lanes or merges without checking these zones, smaller vehicles can get caught in the path.
- Rollover accidents – A truck’s high center of gravity makes it prone to tipping over, especially when a driver takes a curve too fast, overcorrects after drifting, or carries an improperly distributed load.
- T-bone collisions – These side-on crashes often happen at intersections when a truck runs a red light or stop sign, striking another vehicle on the driver’s or passenger’s side with tremendous force.
- Accidents involving pedestrians – Pedestrians have no protection against the weight and speed of a commercial truck. These collisions frequently lead to life-threatening or fatal injuries.
- Accidents involving trains – These collisions most often occur at railroad crossings when a truck driver fails to stop or misjudges the time needed to clear the tracks before a train arrives.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Roanoke Catastrophic Truck Accident?
Unlike a car accident, where only another driver typically is liable, many parties may be held accountable in a catastrophic truck accident, including:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Shipper
- Owner of the truck’s cargo
- Company responsible for truck inspection and maintenance
- Owner or owners of the tractor and the trailer
- State or local governments (when poorly maintained roads, missing signals, or dangerous infrastructure conditions contribute to a crash)
- Manufacturers (if a defective truck part caused the collision)
Because so many parties can be involved, pursuing compensation may involve dealing with several insurance carriers. At Lichtenstein Law Group, we have deep knowledge of the trucking and insurance industries, and we will be committed to seeing your case through to the end.
What Types of Injuries Are Caused by Truck Accidents?
Commercial trucks are massive. When fully loaded, their size and weight can result in accidents that leave victims with severe, life-altering injuries. Victims may need intensive medical treatment and extensive rehabilitation. Their injuries may prevent them from earning a living. Common injuries from truck accidents include:
- Broken bones – The force of a truck collision can fracture bones throughout the body. The recovery process often requires surgery and extended rehabilitation.
- Traumatic brain injuries – A violent jolt or blow to the head during a crash can cause brain injuries. The damage can result in severe trauma with lasting cognitive, emotional, and physical effects.
- Whiplash and neck injuries – The sudden, forceful back-and-forth motion of a collision can strain or tear the muscles and ligaments in the neck. The resulting pain and stiffness can linger for weeks or months.
- Spinal cord injuries – Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis, permanently changing a victim’s mobility, independence, and quality of life.
- Burn injuries – Truck accidents involving fuel leaks, chemical cargo spills, or post-collision fires can cause severe burns that require skin grafts and leave victims with permanent scarring and nerve damage.
- Internal injuries – The blunt force of a truck crash can cause internal bleeding and organ damage. These injuries might not be immediately obvious, but they can easily become life-threatening without swift medical attention.
- Amputations – In the most catastrophic crashes, victims may lose limbs either during the collision itself or through surgical amputation when doctors cannot save a severely crushed extremity.
- Emotional trauma and PTSD – Beyond physical harm, survivors of truck accidents often experience psychological wounds that can stay with them long after they have healed from their physical injuries. The most common post-accident mental health issues include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
- Fatal injuries – In the most unfortunate circumstances, victims die from the severe injuries they suffer in a trucking accident. In one recent year alone, 45 fatal truck crashes occurred on Virginia roads, according to the Virginia Highway Safety Office.
What Are Common Factors in Truck Accidents?
Truck drivers and trucking companies must comply with a strict set of standards and laws that aim to keep the roadways safe for all drivers in Virginia, including state and federal trucking regulations that:
- Establish weight limits
- Limit the number of hours a trucker can drive without a break
- Require proper training and licensing
- Demand driver supervision
- Require proper loading and securing of cargo
- Dictate vehicle maintenance and repair standards
Violations of these standards often lead to catastrophic truck accidents in Roanoke. The most common factors in truck accidents in Virginia include:
- Driver fatigue from traveling for too long a stretch without a break
- Driver prescription drug use or over-the-counter drug use
- Improper maintenance of brakes or other equipment
- An interruption in traffic flow, such as congestion
- Speeding and driving aggressively in a rush to get to the next stop
- Road issues such as construction or maintenance
- Failure to stop at a stop light or crosswalk
- Failure to pay attention
- Sudden shifting of unsecured cargo
- Negligent hiring practices, such as failing to properly screen drivers for safety violations, criminal history, or valid credentials
- Defective truck components due to faulty manufacturing
- Missing or poorly placed warning signs on roads, at construction zones, or at railroad crossings
- Road rage and aggressive behavior such as tailgating, cutting off other drivers, or brake-checking
- Tire blowouts due to worn, underinflated, or defective tires
Just one of these factors, or a combination of factors, can forever change a person’s life in a truck accident. If you or a loved one is suffering from such an injury, a skilled Roanoke truck accident trial attorney at Lichtenstein Law Group can review your case and explain how we can pursue justice for you.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Virginia?
If you were hurt in a truck crash in Virginia, you should act quickly. In most personal injury cases, Virginia law gives injured people two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Wrongful death cases have a different starting point. In those cases, the two-year deadline begins on the date of the victim’s death, not the date of the crash.
However, not every case follows the same deadline. Sometimes, the circumstances create shorter or additional deadlines. For example, if a state employee or state actor caused the truck crash while working for the Commonwealth, you may need to give written notice within one year under the Virginia Tort Claims Act. If a city, county, or town actor was at fault, a separate six-month notice deadline may apply.
These rules can be hard to sort out on your own. That is why it is important to contact a lawyer right away after an injury.
Missing a deadline can have serious consequences. If you do not file your claim on time, the court can dismiss your case. If that happens, you may lose your right to seek just compensation.
The sooner you speak with a truck accident lawyer at Lichtenstein Law Group, the sooner our team can help. We can begin preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses, and building the strongest possible case for you.
What Types of Compensation Could You Recover in a Virginia Truck Accident Claim?
Truck accident victims and their families often face enormous financial pressure on top of the physical and emotional toll of a serious crash. A claim can help you recover compensation that reflects the true scope of your losses. The types of compensation generally fall into two categories.
Economic compensation covers the financial losses you can calculate and document, including:
- Medical expenses – This type of compensation reflects hospital bills, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and any future medical care related to your injuries.
- Lost income and wages – You have a right to compensation for the paychecks you missed while recovering, as well as any time off work you will need in the future.
- Reduced earning capacity – If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same type of work or earning the same salary, you may recover compensation for that difference.
- Property damage – You can claim the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal belongings destroyed in the crash.
- Rehabilitation costs – If you have ongoing expenses for occupational therapy, assistive devices, or home modifications that you need as part of your recovery, these costs can also be included in your award.
Non-economic compensation addresses the losses that are harder to measure but no less real and may include:
- Pain and suffering – You have a right to compensation for the physical pain and discomfort you endure due to your injuries.
- Emotional distress – Many people experience anxiety, fear, sleep disruption, and other psychological effects following a traumatic crash.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – Injuries might prevent you from participating in hobbies, activities, and daily routines that once brought you fulfillment.
- Loss of consortium – Compensation may be available to a spouse or family member for the loss of companionship, affection, and support caused by the victim’s injuries.
- Scarring and disfigurement – Injured individuals may be eligible for substantial awards for any permanent physical changes, such as visible scars or burns, that affect their appearance and self-confidence.
Get Help from an Experienced Roanoke Truck Accident Lawyer
There is no simple solution to resolve a catastrophic truck accident case, even though an insurance company might try to convince you otherwise. With serious injuries, potential violations of regulations, and a gang of trucking companies and insurance carriers involved, you will need a team of trial attorneys on your side who will be prepared for a heated battle for you.
The Roanoke personal injury lawyers at Lichtenstein Law Group know how insurance companies operate, and we are committed to not letting them get away with avoiding their responsibilities. When necessary, we take cases to trial and hold negligent drivers and corporations accountable.
With nearly 100 years of combined litigation experience, Lichtenstein Law Group has built a record of success in complex personal injury cases. Our skilled trial lawyers are trusted in Roanoke and throughout Virginia. We are passionate about helping our neighbors rebuild their lives after serious crashes.
If you or a loved one is coping with catastrophic injuries or a wrongful death after a Virginia truck accident, contact our Roanoke truck accident lawyers for a free consultation. We will treat you with the compassion you deserve while fighting for the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
