//Truck Accidents in Richmond and How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
Truck Accidents in Richmond and How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Truck Accidents in Richmond and How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Truck Accidents in Richmond and How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help


Source: https://pixabay.com/en/burning-truck-catastrophe-accident-110699/

Any large trucks and transport vehicles like delivery trucks need to acquire an exclusive license for commercial truck driving before hitting Richmond Virginia roadways. 26,000 pounds vehicles, with at least 15 passengers or hazardous transport materials, are only operated by drivers with commercial driver’s license. 

Drivers of commercial trucks go through additional evaluation and training before they can obtain a commercial driver’s license. The tests include equipment performance, basic skills, general knowledge and other specific exams. All commercial drivers should pass the CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) road test to verify that they are credible enough to hit the road.

Commercial Truck Accidents in Richmond Virginia

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/accident-truck-bridge-vehicle-1771946/

Regardless of the additional operations and safety training required to commercial drivers, there are still thousands of accidents that involve trucks and heavy vehicles. Some accidents cause injury and sometimes death. Due to the average size of a commercial truck, the damages and injuries it can cause are severe.

Here are common causes of truck accidents:

The Truck Driver Overfatigue

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-person-car-driver-7460/

According to Federal regulations, there is a limit to the amount of time a driver can drive per week. The maximum number of hours allowed for a trucker to drive is 11 hours after a 10 hours off-duty. With this kind of regulation, it helps in preventing driver tiredness and fatigue. Also, drivers must get sufficient sleep to recharge their bodies. 

The scheduled routes are thousands of miles that even experienced drivers get tired with the ride.

Improper Truck Maintenance

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/antique-auto-automobile-automotive-1868726/

Other common causes of truck accidents are improper truck maintenance. It is the trucking company’s responsibility to have proper maintenance of their vehicles. However, some companies are proving negligent maintenance in their vehicles.

Thorough maintenance checks need proper documentation, and the truck company is responsible for any accidents caused by faulty equipment. Any equipment malfunctions are the trucking company’s responsibility.  

Equipment Failure

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/highway-accident-truck-road-61992/

The same with other average vehicles, equipment failure also occurs to commercial trucks. Sometimes, poorly constructed roads and unpredictable weather conditions cause damages to trucks. Weathers like snow is extremely dangerous for large vehicles.

Distracted Driving

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-driving-his-car-67454/

Truckers usually spend a long time on the road. They are often assigned to uncommon locations with less traffic that tempt them to multitask. Though there is lesser traffics in some areas, drivers still need to have their full attention on the road to avoid any danger.

Mobile phones are one of the common causes of distracted driving. Texting, talking or even pressing direction in the GPS are the common actions that distract the driver’s eyes off the road.

Texting Truck Drivers

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blur-car-cellphone-contemporary-230554/

In different places, texting while driving is prohibited and is against the law. All drivers are banned from using their mobile phones while driving. However, even if the law disapproves of it, some truckers still use their phones for texting while driving. Texting while driving heightens the risk of getting involved in an accident. There is an adequate increase of danger if texting and fatigue are combined.

How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Personal Injury attorneys help you process a truck accident lawsuit. It’s helpful to know what a personal injury attorney can do for you. There are instances that may process an insurance claim on your own for auto accidents, but that’s impossible for a truck accident. Trucking accidents can be complex and the injuries involved can be lethal. There are different regulations to be considered in a trucking accident and usually involves many parties.  Going through the process alone brings confusion and burden. On top of that, accidents that involve large trucks often leads to lifetime injuries and death. An experienced injury attorney will help you prove the fault and determine who will pay and how much would the damages be. Remember, insurance companies will always make a way to give you lesser claims and that’s why they have their own set of legal councils to work things out in their favor.

Takeaway

Road accidents are inevitable, however, with carelessness and negligence, it increases the risk of wasting human lives. Though there are preventive measures that will help avoid accidents. Some companies and truck drivers neglect proper decorum for safety.

Author’s Bio:

Brody Reid is an experienced and zealous trial attorney. Focusing on assisting injured individuals and their families during tough times, Brody has worked tirelessly to help individuals in his hometown in the years since law school. Throughout his career, Brody has successfully represented over a thousand clients in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, and Civil Litigation through jury trials, bench trials, and administrative proceedings.

Brody Reid / https://www.reidgoodwin.com/brody-reid.html