Richmond, Virginia Truck Accident Lawyers
If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, we know you are likely experiencing major financial hardships. Trucks are not cars, and it’s important to note that truck accident cases vary from car accident cases in important ways, and that makes them far more complex than other accident cases. The truck accident attorneys at Epperly & Follis, P.C., have many years of experience in truck accident litigation, and our team will work hard to show that the driver, trucking company, or maintenance worker failed to exercise a duty of reasonable care, which ultimately caused the accident and resulting injuries. We have the experience and knowledge to fight for your rights against the tractor-trailer company that caused your accident.
Experienced Tractor Trailer Accident Attorney Serving the Richmond area
Not all law firms are created equal. David Epperly has previously represented a major trucking company and has gained vast experience in how to handle truck accidents that he now uses to represent victims of trucking accidents. You deserve to be compensated fairly after an accident. David will use his experience to fight for you.
Rules Truck Drivers Must Follow
Truckers have to abide by many state and federal regulations. These rules are designed to reduce the risk of being involved in a serious or even fatal accident. Here are the regulations they are expected to abide by:
- They are only allowed to drive a certain number of hours per day
- They must maintain logs including information on the number of miles driven, as well as where they drove
- They cannot exceed certain speeds on certain roads
- The vehicle must be properly serviced and maintained for safety at all times to keep everyone safe
- Various other state regulations
Truck drivers are required to follow all of these regulations along with abiding by all traffic laws. If you are in an accident with a truck driver, and the attorney can show they broke any of these laws, you deserve to be compensated for your damages to help with your recovery.
Truck Accident Statistics
If you have been involved in a truck accident, it has likely resulted in a serious injury or wrongful death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017:
- There were 148,000 truck-crash injuries
- There were 5,005 total fatalities in large truck accidents
- 4,465 total fatal crashes including large trucks or buses
- 107,000 large trucks involved in injury crashes
Driver Errors and Vehicle Maintenance Cause Most Accidents
The causes of most truck accidents tend to fall into two general categories: driver error and vehicle maintenance failure. The most common cause of driver error is fatigue, which can cause clouded judgment, drowsiness, and falling asleep at the wheel. Driver error can also be due to inexperience, improper driver training and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (whether prescription or illegal). Deregulation of the trucking industry has resulted in an increase in speed-limit violations among tractor-trailer drivers as well.
Other cited reasons truck accidents:
- Driver fatigue
- Overly demanding truck driver schedules
- Failure to properly inspect tires, brakes and lights
- Tailgating
- Long work-shifts
- Cell phone use
- Failure to install blind spot mirrors
- Dangerous lane changes
- Jackknifing
- Aggressive Truck Driving
- Driving over the speed limit
Injuries Can Be Serious or Even Fatal
The after-effects of a collision with a truck include death and gravely serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury or other brain damage; open head wounds; paralysis; spinal cord injury; back injury; broken bones; loss of limbs, and internal bleeding. In addition, there are lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. The attorneys of Epperly & Follis want to help you take action, so you receive the fair compensation you deserve.
What Damages Can I Be Compensated For
If it is determined that the driver of the tractor trailer is responsible for the accident, there are many damages you can be compensated for. These accidents often result in mounting medical bills for the victims. The laws of Virginia state you can recover all of these bills:
- You can recover all medical expenses related to your accident. This includes rehabilitation bills, pharmaceutical expenses, hospital bills, etc.
- If you are facing permanent disability, you can recover losses for permanent injuries and projected wages lost in the future due to disability.
- Attorney fees are recoverable, along with other court fees, and fees related to the legal process.
- Lost work wages after the accident are recoverable from the client and their insurance company
You Need Legal Representation
The bottom line is you deserve a full recovery. It is not your fault if someone else was ticketed for the accident. We know the physical pain may be tough. An experienced lawyer understands what you are going through because they see these cases all the time. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a tractor trailer accident, it is essential that you quickly retain an attorney who has experience in litigating truck accident cases. Epperly & Follis is on your side, and we are prepared to help you through this difficult litigation while seeking financial compensation for your losses. Please contact the truck accident law firm of Epperly & Follis in Richmond, Virginia today for a free consultation at 1-888-703-0109 or (804) 648-6480, or contact us via our online Contact Form.