Truck accident injury claims can be one of the most complex types of insurance processes to go through. This is because there is often more than one at-fault party who may be responsible. A Norfolk truck accident attorney can advise you on which party or parties should be named in your truck accident injury claim.
The Truck Driver
Actions by a truck driver are often the cause of a truck accident. Some of the more common factors include driver fatigue, speeding, or other activity that violates federal and state trucking regulations. However, in these type of cases, there may be multiple parties that are responsible for a victim’s injuries and the financial compensation they are entitled to.
For example, if the brakes of the truck failed and that is what caused the truck crash, your Virginia injury attorney will investigate whether or not that trucking company inspected and maintained the brakes on a regular basis. Your attorney will also check to see if the brakes were defective, which would then make the manufacturer liable for your injuries.
The Trucking Company
Your Va. accident attorney will investigate other factors that may have contributed to the crash to determine if the trucking company’s actions or policies led to the crash. In addition to whether or not the truck was well-maintained, questions about the driver’s history and experience are also examined. Did the truck company hire a truck driver who had a history of speeding, driving under the influence or other dangerous issues? Did the trucking company ensure that the driver was trained and experienced?
The Freight Company
If the truck accident occurred because the vehicle was over the legal weight limit or the load was not secured properly and it shifted, then the freight company who loaded and packed the truck could be named as an at-fault party in your truck accident injury claim.
Truck Part Manufacturer
As mentioned above, if the truck accident was caused by a defective part, then the truck part manufacturer could also be liable for your injuries. One of the most common defective truck parts that contribute to accidents is defective tires. A loaded tractor-trailer that has a tire blowout can be fatal to any vehicle that is in its area.
Contact an Attorney
If you have been injured in a truck accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Virginia truck accident attorney right away. Our personal injury firm has handled numerous truck accident cases and understands the intimidation tactics and manipulation that many trucking companies and their insurance carriers use on injured victims in order to avoid paying the amount of financial damages the victim deserves.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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