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West Virginia Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer

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West Virginia Truck Accident Attorneys

truck accident attorney

 

Our top Morgantown WV Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyers help victims injured in West Virginia truck accidents obtain fair compensation for their injuries, losses and – sadly, too often – fatalities.

We are a team of Morgantown WV truck crash lawyers with experience in truck accident cases. We have been representing the victims of tractor trailer accidents in West Virginia injury and death claims for over 30 years.

We work for you, the victim, not for the insurance company.

Morgantown WV Truck Accident Lawyers

We are the top Morgantown WV tractor trailer accident lawyers who help victims injured in West Virginia truck accidents obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages and losses. Truck accidents are major causes of injury and death on the highways and roads. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in West Virginia, involving a tractor trailer or commercial vehicle, it is vitally important that you contact an experienced attorney who is well versed in the handling of claims against commercial truck drivers and the trucking companies that employ them. 

Please call us today for your free consultation with a WV-licensed truck accident lawyer – (304) 381-2166. Our top Morgantown WV trucking accident attorneys travel throughout the State to help injured parties get the recoveries to which they are entitled.

Does West Virginia Experiences A Lot of Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents are one of the most common type of accident in West Virginia. In fact, more than 10% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve trucks. The most common type of truck accident is the rear-end truck collision.

West Virginia stretches over 549 miles of interstate and has approximately 37,277 miles of public roads. And commercial vehicle operators such as 18 wheelers, semi-trailers, courier service trucks and big rigs continue to use these roads to carry and deliver goods back and forth.

Unfortunately, West Virginia is a major thoroughfare for tractor trailer traffic, and as a result, truck accidents frequently occur on the WV interstates and roadways. 

Nearly 5000 truck accidents occur annually and over half of the truck crashes involve commercial carriers, including 18 wheelers. When a truck accident occurs, severe injuries, death and devastation often results.

Top Morgantown, WV Tractor Trailer Crash Lawyers

The accident attorneys at Adams Legal Group, PLLC in Morgantown, WV are some of the best truck accident attorneys in the State of West Virginia. We handle 18-wheeler accident cases throughout the State and routinely appear in courts throughout the North-Central parts of West Virginia on serious injury and death cases.

Unfortunately, many of the commercial vehicle cases that we handle often result in very significant personal injuries or deaths, as the size, weight, and lack of maneuverability of these big rigs frequently leads to calamitous results in an accident involving a regular passenger vehicle. These factors are often magnified when combined with the windy and hilly roadways of West Virginia. If you or a loved one were injured or killed by a negligent truck driver in the State of WV, please call us for a free consultation and case evaluation to see how we can help you.

Contact A Morgantown WV Truck Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a West Virginia tractor trailer accident, you should contact a competent WV truck accident lawyer to help you. We can help sort out the fault of the truck driver and all parties involved in the loading, maintenance and ownership of the truck.

More importantly, our top Morgantown truck accident lawyers can help you sort out the difficulties you face following a serious accident case – most urgently usually including getting and paying for the medical attention that you need, how you will pay the bills, and dealing with the insurance and defense companies.

To find an answer to your questions and see how we can help you, call us today at (304) 381-2166 or click the contact button (below) to send us a message and get the conversation started that way!

Why Do You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?

You need an experienced truck accident attorney, because injury claims pertaining to tractor trailer collisions are hard to fight in the court, predominantly because most of the trucking agencies boast powerful legal departments and infinite resources of huge insurance budgets and teams of attorneys. Therefore, many victims often have to settle for compensation below what they deserve. But with the Morgantown, WV truck accident attorneys at Adams Legal Group, PLLC, you don’t have to worry about that because our tractor-trailer accident lawyers have the experience and the fight to get you the compensation that you deserve.

When a truck driver or the trucking company violates the FMCSR (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Act) in any form or capacity, then that group or individual is held responsible for an accident. Our Morgantown truck accident attorney will investigate your case from every angle, and aspect to determine the right party who is liable for your damages. In many situations the driver is at fault but other parties can also be sued. 

Often times the truck is owned and maintained by someone other than the driver and sometimes the owner and service and maintenance companies are different entities altogether and each of these parties may have some responsibility and fault in causing the accident.

How Can Our WV Truck Accident Lawyers Help You?

At Adams Legal Group PLLC, our Morgantown WV truck accident attorneys understand the complexities of WV truck accidents claims. Our strong knowledge of the law and rich experience enables us to provide you with aggressive legal representation and to hold the trucking company and their insurance accountable.

Our Morgantown WV truck accident attorneys will perform a thorough investigation of your tractor-trailer injury case. We will go through all of the pertinent records and also investigate police reports, maintenance records, driver logs and a host of other available safety information to dig deep and find compelling evidence that can prove fault. We will also work tirelessly in achieving a proper and fair settlement for you that compensates you for all of your losses and suffering.

We’ll go the extra mile to help you get justice even if we have to examine GPS data, and engine computers to determine how the truck accident occurred. Upon investigation, our attorney will be able to find the exact cause of the truck accident and accordingly file suit against the right parties such as:

  • The driver,
  • The truck owner,
  • The truck loader,
  • The vehicle manufacturer.

Attorney William S. Adams has the experience and knowledge as one of the best semi-rig accident attorneys in West Virginia, in handling serious truck accidents and crashes, resulting in wrongful death and catastrophic injuries. If you or a loved one were seriously injured or killed by the negligence of an 18-wheeler driver, do not wait to get the legal help that you need, right away. Call us today – (304) 381-2166 or click the button to get a conversation started about your tractor trailer accident and injury claim.

What Are The Top Causes Of Truck Accidents In West Virginia?

Common Causes for Truck AccidentsOur experienced truck accident lawyers in our Morgantown, WV office handle big rig accidents cases all over the State of West Virginia and have seen numerous causes for these accidents. Sadly, tractor trailer crashes occur every day in the U.S. and can result in some pretty horrific injuries, like broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, burns and too frequently, death. 

Many people who get hurt in these accidents have to spend long periods of times in the hospital and may even suffer permanent disabilities. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common causes of truck accidents that our attorneys frequently handle:

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, so they are bound to get distracted by something from time to time. Whether it’s sending a text message or eating food behind the wheel, taking their attention off the road ahead can increase the risk of an accident.

Improper Vehicle Maintenance

Commercial trucks are driven thousands of miles every week, so they endure a lot of wear and tear. That’s why it’s important for trucking companies to do regular maintenance on their trucks. If they detect an issue, such as worn brakes, they should fix it right away to minimize the risk of accidents.

Overloading

Although commercial trucks are huge vehicles, they still have weight limits. If a truck is carrying more cargo than it can handle, the vehicle will be more difficult to stop and control when turning corners, increasing the risk of accidents. The extra weight can lead to even more serious injuries if the truck collides with another vehicle.

Driver Fatigue

Although federal regulations restrict truck drivers from driving too many consecutive hours on the road, not all of them follow these rules. They may face a lot of pressure from their trucking companies to deliver goods drive longer hours. All this driving can its toll on truck drivers eventually and cause them to be extremely exhausted. Tired truck drivers can’t concentrate as well on the road and may even doze off behind the wheel, increasing the risk of accidents.

Speeding

Truck drivers are often on tight deadlines, so they may drive above the speed limit to get to their destinations faster. Unfortunately, speeding lowers their reaction times and makes accidents more likely. It’s important for these drivers to always obey the posted speed limits to keep everyone on the road safe

Inexperienced Truck Drivers

Operating a commercial truck is much different and operating a smaller vehicle. It takes a lot more skill and knowledge to drive commercial trucks safely. That is why truck drivers should go through extensive training before they are allowed behind the wheel. However, some trucking companies may not train their drivers as well in order to cut costs.

If you were injured in a truck accident, you should consult with a truck accident attorney Morgantown, WV, whom clients recommend. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. An experienced attorney may help you file a timely claim, prepare the necessary evidence, find witnesses and negotiate with insurance companies. 

Our truck accident attorneys offer free initial consultations and case evaluations, and will help you every step of the way through the handling of your claim, until we receive compensation for you. Call us today to see how we can help you – (304) 381-2166.

What Are The Key Elements Of Fault Involved In WV Truck Accidents?

Accidents involving tractor trailers can be caused by any number of factors, but some of the key elements of fault that we, as WV tractor-trailer accident attorneys, evaluate in assessing a legal case against the driver and/or his employer, include the following:

  • Drug or Alcohol Use,
  • Truck Driver Fatigue and/or Violation of Hours of Service,
  • Aggressive Driving/Maneuvering,
  • Excessive or Unsecured Loads,
  • Equipment Failure or Malfunction (e.g. breaks, signals, etc.),
  • Excessive Speed,
  • Unsafe Following Distance (leaving inadequate breaking distance),
  • Distracted Driving (e.g. texting while driving),
  • Driver Negligence (turning too fast, turning too wide, failing to check blind spots, etc.),
  • Inadequate Driver Training or Screening by Employer.

If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a truck accident, anywhere in the state of West Virginia, and you believe that the truck driver was at fault for causing the accident, please give us a call today for a free evaluation of your claim – (304) 381-2166 or fill out our contact form on this page.

What Are The Best Ways To Avoid A Tractor Trailer Crash?

Tractor trailers are the most common type of truck on the road. They are also the most dangerous. The best ways to avoid a tractor trailer accident is to exercise due caution anytime you are in proximity of a truck on the road. More specifically, certain situations require special caution, such as the following: 

  • Stay in your lane and don’t cut off a tractor trailer: a tractor trailer is much larger than a car – it can’t be cut off, and trying to cut in front of a big rig for the purpose of break checking is a tremendously bad idea, as the weight and load of the truck can make breaking in time to avoid hitting you impossible or very dangerous at the least.
  • Don’t tailgate a tractor trailer: trucks have a limited field of view, particularly directly and in-close behind them, because of the positioning of their mirrors and the length and obstruction of their trailers.
  • Don’t drive too close to the side of a tractor trailer: trucks way too frequently swerve and cross center lines, even on the widest of highways, either because of driver error, load shifting, or to avoid roadway hazards or accidents.
  • If you see brake lights, slow down and get ready to stop: because of the huge size of semi trucks, most of the times when following in behind one, your visibility of what is happening up ahead of the truck is extremely limited. Brake lights may signify an impending stop and you may have no other warning as to what is happening ahead except of the lights.
  • For your safety, be aware that when you pass a tractor trailer, do not be in a hurry to leave the passing lane until you have cleared a safe distance in front of the truck, a distance at least as great as the length of the tractor trailer itself. This way if everyone has to reduce their speed, the tractor trailer behind you will be able to do so safely.

  • Another safety hazard that causes accidents between tractor trailers and passenger vehicles is passing a tractor trailer on the right. As a rule of thumb, don’t ever pass a truck on the right as there is a blind spot the entire length of the right-hand side of the trailer. The tractor trailer driver can’t see you, and if he is switching from the left lane to the right lane as you are attempting to pass on the right, he could drive your vehicle off the road, crush you between the side of the truck and the guard rail or literally run over top of you. If you pass a tractor trailer on the right you are flipping a coin as to whether or not you will have a collision. There’s no other way to describe it. Don’t do it.

  • The third potentially hazardous situation that the driver of a passenger vehicle needs to be aware of is when a truck making a right-hand turn at an intersection. In order for a truck to make a right turn at an intersection, it first has to navigate the entire tractor trailer into the left-hand lane in order to get the amount of clearance needed because of the length of the trailer. Impatient drivers, seeing the empty right lane attempt to pass the truck on the right and can get crushed by the rear set of tires on the trailer.

How Are Truck Accidents Distinct From A Typical Car Accident?

There are numerous ways that a truck accident differs from a run-of-the-mill car accident, particularly from the standpoint of seeking compensation for personal injuries against a truck driving and trucking company following a WV tractor trailer accident.  

Stark differences between the training it takes to operate a semi and what it takes to operate a passenger vehicle. While you and I can get a license to drive a car by taking a quick test and answering a few questions, drivers of large trucks and tractor trailers are held to much higher training standards and licensing requirements.

As a result tractor trailer and other commercial truck drivers receive rigorous training and are some of the most experienced and highly qualified on the highways. Since we all need to use the roads safely, you should be aware that operating a passenger vehicle safely amongst large tractor trailers requires a few special safety precautions. Most passenger vehicle drivers are unaware of three special driving situations that are unique to large tractor trailers that cause the majority of tractor trailer accidents involving passenger vehicles.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large trucks can weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger vehicles. The administration reports that over 9% of the fatalities in accidents involving a truck and a passenger vehicles are to the occupants of the passenger vehicle. Each year over 400,000 crashes involve tractor trailers and over 5000 people are killed. Surprisingly, as many as 70% of the fatalities are the result of accidents that are caused inadvertently by passenger vehicles operators not truck drivers.

One significant difference between a tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle lies in the braking. While the braking system in a passenger vehicle engages instantaneously by pressing on the brake pedal, the hydraulic system in a tractor trailer’s air brakes take approximately 1.5 seconds to reach the rearmost tires.

This delay results in it taking a tractor trailer two to three times the time and distance to stop than it takes a passenger vehicle. You will often see a tractor trailer driving a safe distance behind a vehicle, only to be cut off by a passenger vehicle that passes the truck and then cuts in between the car and the truck, reducing the distance between the back of the car and the front of the truck by as much as two thirds. What was one second a safe distance with the tractor trailer well behind the automobile in front of it has now become inadequate and there is no way the truck could stop in time to avoid rear-ending the car that cut him off.

Do You Need A Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney?

The short answer is – Yes. If you were injured in a tractor trailer accident in West Virginia, you should consult with a competent and experienced WV truck accident lawyer, who knows not only West Virginia personal injury law, but also knows the ins and outs of the trucking industry and all of the regulations and additional safety rules that will likely apply to your claim to prove liability for your case.

Having an experienced and competent West Virginia truck accident lawyer on your side will most certainly help you navigate the legal process of filing a civil claim in court, prosecuting that action, investigating the circumstances of the accident, proving negligence and fault of the truck driving and trucking company, and in negotiating a fair settlement for you or taking your case to trial and winning a monetary award through a jury verdict.

The Importance Of Consulting With A Competent Truck Accident Lawyer

As a result of the catastrophic injuries a tractor trailer can cause, tractor trailer operators are not only required to have extensive training, but also are held to a higher reporting and record keeping standard than operators of passenger vehicles.

Both tractor trailer operators and the companies they represent are held to a much higher safety standard than operators of passenger vehicles and they are required by law to document their travels by keeping strict and accurate records.

If you have been involved in an accident with a large truck, there is critical data that the company operating the truck is required to keep and it’s imperative that we gather that evidence immediately in order to build the strongest possible case for you and against the commercial trucking company and driver. It is also thus imperative that you consult with a lawyer who is well versed in handling tractor-trailer accidents, to ensure that all of the proper information is collected.

 

Morgantown WV Truck Accident Lawyer - Top FAQs

What Should I Do If I Am Involved In A Truck Accident In WV?

If you are involved in a truck accident in West Virginia, you should contact the police and provide them with your information. You should also take pictures of the truck and injuries for documentation purposes.

You should always contact an attorney to make sure that your rights are protected. The attorneys will help you get compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you are in a truck accident in West Virginia, it is important to know that the truck driver may not be insured. This means you will have to pay for the damages out of your own pocket. If you are injured and need medical attention, this can be very costly. If you have any injuries, it is important to get immediate medical attention, immediately.

It is also a good idea to take pictures of the accident scene as soon as possible and keep them on your phone or camera for later use. You should also make sure that you get contact information from any witnesses who can provide additional details about what happened before, during and after the crash.

How Is A Tractor Trailer Driver’s Insurance Different Than Mine?

A truck driver’s insurance is different from a regular person’s insurance for several reasons. One of the most obvious differences is that a truck driver needs to cover the cost of the vehicle and cargo in case of an accident. . This has the potential to be a much larger amount than would be covered for a regular car. It is also important to note that truck drivers cannot make claims on their own insurance if it decreases in value because of an accident. Truck drivers need to have commercial auto insurance with coverage for truckers and commercial vehicles, as well as liability insurance which protects them from personal or legal liability for the driver’s actions.

Truck driver’s insurance limits under a commercial liability policy are far higher than most regular car insurance policies, because the number of potential litigants is so much larger, as are the potential consequences of a truck accident. In addition, a truck driver must carry a commercial liability policy with limits of at least $1 million. Some commercial policies have additional coverages or higher limits, which may be as high as $10 million. Hazardous material haulers are required to carry $5 million in liability insurance.

How Can I Recover Money After A WV Truck Accident?

This article will give you all the information you need to know about how to recover money after a WV truck accident. It will cover everything from what a truck accident is, how it impacts your finances, and what you should do to get your life back on track. The first thing that you should do after an accident is get your medical bills paid for. You can do this by filing a claim with the driver’s insurance company or by filing a personal injury lawsuit against them. In some cases, the driver might have worker’s compensation coverage which would help pay for your medical expenses. If they don’t have worker’s compensation coverage then they will be liable for all of the costs associated with the accident. If there are any other damages that resulted from the crash like property damage or lost wages, you should also start taking steps to file a claim. If the other driver caused the accident then they will have to pay for those damages as well.

How Dangerous Are Truck Drivers?

The trucking industry is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. It has a fatality rate that is three times higher than any other industry. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there are more than 4,000 fatalities and 70,000 injuries each year due to truck-related accidents.

Truck drivers are some of the most dangerous workers in America today. They have a fatality rate that is three times higher than any other industry’s and they account for 4,000 fatalities and 70,000 injuries every year in America alone. In order to decrease these numbers, we need to take a look at

The trucking industry is one of the most dangerous professions in America due to its high injury and fatality rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that truck drivers are four times more likely to die on the job than the average American worker. In a six-year period, truck drivers in fatal crashes had an average of 12 years at work before their first recorded injury. Truck driver fatalities have increased by 44% over the last decade. Further, fatal accidents to other drivers caused by semi-trailer truck drivers have increased by 53% in the last decade.

 

Contact A Top Morgantown WV Truck Accident Lawyer

 

Please call us today for a free consultation, as our attorneys have the experience and expertise in handling and maximizing recoveries in all aspects of truck and commercial vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries or death – (304) 381-2166.

Best Morgantown WV Truck Accident Lawyer
William S. Adams – Morgantown, WV Tractor Trailer Accident Attorney