Find Your WV Truck Accident Lawyer at the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed
We all share the roads with large trucks and commercial vehicles regularly. When an accident involving a big truck and a passenger vehicle occurs, the results are usually catastrophic. Because of this risk, truck drivers and trucking companies must follow extra safety rules. When the rules aren’t followed, people get hurt and sometimes killed. If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident in West Virginia (WV), a WV truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed, PLLC will fight to get the compensation you deserve.
Why Do You Need an Experienced WV Truck Accident Lawyer?
Legal cases involving collisions with large commercial vehicles require specific knowledge of government regulations and personal injury law. These cases also call for attention to detail, willingness to fight against well-heeled opponents, and true concern and compassion for the injured and their families. You’ll find these traits and more in the attorneys at the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed, a Morgantown, WV law firm.
Through regulation by federal and state agencies, truckers and the companies they work for are held to a higher safety standard than the average driver. They have a responsibility to follow the rules put in place to protect other travelers. When truckers and businesses disregard these rules, people get hurt badly. The fact that the accident could have been avoided might not be obvious to those who don’t know the regulations and responsibilities of commercial vehicles, including law enforcement officers who investigate at the scene of a crash.
Our personal injury lawyers know what to do after a truck accident to locate and preserve evidence and get you on the best path to physical and financial recovery. From identifying causes of truck accidents and proving fault to negotiating appropriate truck accident lawsuit settlements or taking the matter to court, you can count on us to take the legal actions that serve our clients best.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recorded 181,578 accidents involving large trucks or buses in 2018. Those incidents resulted in 4,979 deaths and 96,944 injuries. Many truck accidents are preventable. Common causes of truck accidents include the following:
- Speeding, tailgating, or other reckless driving;
- Distracted driving, such as texting, eating, or other activities that take the driver’s eyes or attention off the road;
- Driver fatigue;
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Lack of conspicuity or visibility of the truck (such as by the failure to use reflective tape or other visibility aids);
- Failure to conform to dangerous driving conditions, such as rain, snow, fog, or ice;
- Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks; and
- Failure to maintain the vehicle (the brakes go out, for example).
Federal and State Regulation of the Trucking Industry
Travelling West Virginia’s roadways alongside tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, flatbeds, and other large commercial vehicles presents a serious risk, especially to those in passenger vehicles. In a collision with a loaded semi-truck, even the safest SUV on the road doesn’t stand much of a chance. Truck accident injuries are devastating and life-changing. That’s why federal and state governments regulate and closely monitor the activities of these vehicles and the companies that operate and use them.
The FMCSA regulates interstate traffic and transportation. Commercial motor vehicles are subjected to the federal regulations put in place by the FMCSA as well as state laws and regulations. Regulated vehicles include the following:
- Tractor-trailers or semi-trucks with trailers;
- Delivery trucks;
- Moving vans/trucks;
- Logging trucks;
- Oil and gas trucks/vehicles;
- Coal trucks;
- Garbage trucks; and
- Hazmat carriers.
Some of the areas governed by federal regulations include the number of hours drivers can be in service without rest, requirements for keeping driving logs, mandatory insurance coverage, and safety and emergency equipment that must be kept in or on the vehicle.
State laws add additional layers of requirements to the rules imposed by the federal government. In West Virginia, the WV Department of Transportation (WVDOT) and its Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are primarily responsible for the regulation of large commercial vehicles and their drivers. This includes the enforcement of state legislation and other regulations related to size and weight limits for vehicles, permitting and license requirements, registrations, and the general responsibilities of drivers and companies.
Regulations provide important oversight and the ability to monitor driver activity and the practices of businesses that operate large commercial vehicles. Your WV truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed knows the laws and regulations that apply to truck drivers and the companies that use commercial vehicles. We will dig into driving logs and other records to find relevant information that can establish the underlying causes of truck accidents and support allegations of fault, negligence, or general liability.
Let Us Get You the Compensation You Deserve for Your Truck Accident Injuries
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a collision with a large truck or another commercial vehicle due to the negligence of the driver, trucking company, and/or some other entity, you are entitled to significant compensation. From investigation, negotiation, settlement, and/or trying your case before a jury, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed cover all the bases of your truck accident lawsuit.
Truck accident injuries can include the following:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI);
- Spinal cord injury/paralysis;
- Broken bones;
- Burns;
- Lacerations;
- Amputations; and
- Death.
These injuries usually require immediate and ongoing medical treatment. You need a WV truck accident lawyer who understands the nature of these catastrophic personal injuries and will find the right experts who can verify your injuries and evaluate the extent of future care you will need.
Some truck accident injuries aren’t as easily seen, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and impacts on relationships. The injuries sustained in accidents with large trucks often result in the inability to work and provide for your family. At the Law Office of Kelly R. Reed, we work with expert care providers who can help diagnose and identify the necessary treatment for “invisible” injuries from large and commercial truck accidents.
Truck accident lawsuit settlements and jury verdicts can include recovery of past and future medical expenses, lost income and ability to earn income, loss of companionship, property damage, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in some situations.
Identifying the responsible parties in truck accident cases can be complex. The driver and/or the company that owns the truck may be at fault, but there is also a possibility of negligence or wrongdoing by a lessor, broker, shipper, receiver, or another entity.
The relationships between these various parties can be complex. That’s why you need an experienced WV truck accident lawyer who understands these relationships to investigate the accident and determine who is responsible and to what degree. At the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed, we work hard to ensure that no responsible parties are left out in our client’s cases.
What to Do after a Truck Accident: Contact a WV Truck Accident Lawyer
Knowing what to do after a truck accident is extremely important. Contact the police, if you are able, and seek medical treatment for your injuries. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company or companies before speaking with your attorney.
Valuable evidence can disappear quickly if the proper actions are not taken to preserve it. The sooner you contact an experienced and qualified lawyer to help you, the sooner we can begin to gather and preserve evidence and information.
One of the most important steps you can take after a truck accident is to contact a qualified and experienced WV truck accident lawyer. To speak to an attorney at the Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed, PLLC, call us today at 304-292-2020 or fill out our online contact form.