Charleston, WV Truck Accident Attorneys Fighting For the Injured

Types of truck accidents in West Virginia

Fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and can cause tremendous damage in an accident. These trucks need a greater distance to come to a complete stop, need to take wide turns, and have a high center of gravity. When something goes wrong, the result can be a:

• Jackknife accident – The brakes on the truck lock up, and the cab folds against the trailer, resembling the shape of a jackknife. The truck can crash into cars until it comes to a complete stop.
• Underride accident – A much smaller passenger car can hit a truck and slide underneath, resulting in severe injuries or death.
• Truck rollover accident – This can happen when truckers speed or take turns too fast. The wheels on one side can come up off the road and the truck can roll over onto the road or a car that is in its path.
• Rear-end truck accident – A tractor-trailer is unable to come to a complete stop while in traffic and hits the back of a car.

Truck drivers, trucking companies, or both may have been negligent in your accident. The manufacturer of defective parts may also be held liable. An experienced attorney can sort through the facts and determine which parties were responsible for what happened.

We know how to build strong cases that get results

You’ve been in an accident in Charleston and received medical treatment for your injuries. Now what? You may feel you are owed compensation, but aren’t sure how to proceed. That’s normal, as truck accident cases can be very complicated.

The truck driver may have been clearly speeding or engaging in other negligent behavior, but may deny doing anything wrong. The same is true of the trucking company. They may even blame you for what happened. They will send investigators on the scene as quickly as possible to preserve evidence they control.

Our firm knows how trucking companies and their insurance carriers operate when there’s been an accident. That’s why we launch our own investigation. Our legal team knows where to look for evidence that can help prove you were hurt because of another party’s negligence. Our lawyers will carefully review accident reports and medical records. We will interview witnesses.

Our attorneys will also take action to preserve important evidence, such as:

• Hours of Service (HOS) logs – These can help us determine if the driver took rest breaks and worked within the hourly and daily limits set by federal law.
• The “black box” data: - Trucks are equipped with an event data recorder (EDR), often referred to as the truck’s “black box.” It records information about what the driver was doing at the time of the collision – information such as speed, direction of travel and braking patterns.
• Employment records – These can help us determine whether the trucking company conducted a background check of the drivers and whether there were any concerns regarding safety.
• Maintenance records – Trucking companies have a responsibility to maintain the trucks in their fleet and make any needed repairs promptly.

One reason truck accidents can be complicated is that there are many different parties involved. These can include the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that owns the trailer, the company that owns the cargo and the manufacturer of any defective parts on the truck. Each can have their own lawyer and their own insurance company.

Experienced legal representation can make a big difference

Our firm has been fighting for clients injured in truck accidents since 2007. We know how to handle complex situations and build strong cases that insurance companies have to take seriously. Our lawyers will fight for compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages.

We understand that injuries from a truck accident can affect you physically, emotionally, and financially. Our attorneys are determined to help you recover maximum compensation, whether that’s through a negotiated settlement or a jury verdict. You owe us nothing unless we win.

The statute of limitations for taking legal action after a truck accident in West Virginia is two years from the date of the collision. But time is not on your side. It can take months to build a strong case, and trucking companies and insurance carriers will try to delay proceedings. Over time, witnesses can forget details and important evidence can be lost.

That’s why it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible if you’ve been injured in a Charleston truck accident. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. One of our attorneys can meet with you at our Charleston law office, your hospital room or another location that is convenient for you.