Truck Accident Attorney Serving Richmond, VA

While any car accident can be devastating, those involving semi-trucks, 18-wheeleers, big rigs, and other large commercial vehicles tend to be particularly catastrophic. Unfortunately, these collisions are also surprisingly common.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), there were more than 2,300 large truck accidents in the commonwealth in 2020, more than 700 of which resulted in bodily injury and 58 of which were fatal.

If you or someone you love was involved in an accident with a large truck or commercial vehicle, Reinhardt | Harper | Davis is here to help. We understand what your family is going through, and we want to help. With more than 100 years of combined experience, our Virginia truck accident attorneys are prepared to effectively advocate on your behalf and fight for the maximum compensation you are owed.

We have successfully held trucking companies and other powerful entities accountable for negligent and wrongful practices, securing tens of millions of dollars for our clients. Learn how our team can fight for the justice you deserve.

Call (804) 294-2966 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Common Causes of Large Truck Accidents

Just like other motor vehicle accidents, most truck accidents result from negligence. Sometimes, truck drivers are negligent; other times, improper trucking company practices, poor truck maintenance, and other underlying acts of negligence indirectly lead to large truck crashes. In any case, if someone else caused the accident that left you injured, you are likely entitled to financial compensation.

Some of the most common causes of semi-truck, big rig, and other large truck accidents include:

• Truck driver error/negligence, including distracted driving, speeding, fatigued driving, drunk or drugged driving, traffic law violations, and more
• State and federal hours-of-service violations by truck drivers, leading to fatigued driving and/or falling asleep behind the wheel
• Improper or missing truck maintenance, failure to perform routine truck inspections, and/or poor or missing truck repairs
• Negligent trucking company practices, such as failure to conduct background checks on drivers, insufficient training of new hires, and failure to discipline drivers who violate company policy
• Improperly loaded cargo, including overloaded trucks and uneven loads that shift during transit, leading to loss of vehicle control
• Defective trucks or truck parts, including engine components, truck tires, braking systems, and safety equipment, such as reflective strips
• Dangerous or defect roadways, including blind curves, unsafe speed limits, potholes, and improper roadway maintenance

At Reinhardt | Harper | Davis, we understand the importance of conducting comprehensive accident investigations. We often work with accident reconstructionists and other experts who assist us in determining exactly what happened—and who is at fault.

Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident?

Identifying the liable party after a truck accident can be difficult. Unlike with standard car accidents, in which the driver who caused the crash is typically the one who is liable for the injured party’s damages, the truck driver may not be legally liable, even if he or she was the one who caused the crash.

In some cases, the trucking company may be responsible for the truck driver’s conduct; in other cases, a separate third party could be partially or wholly liable.

Depending on the specifics of your case, the following parties could be liable for your damages:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• A company that owns or leases the truck
• An entity responsible for truck maintenance and repairs
• An engineer or construction company that designed or built a defective roadway
• The manufacturer or distributor of a defective tractor, trailer, or truck part/component
• A third party, such as another motorist, who negligently caused or contributed to the crash

It’s important to note that, under Virginia’s strict contributory negligence rule, you may not file a claim if you were even slightly at fault for the accident. If the insurance adjuster and/or court finds you as little as one percent to blame, you may not file a claim or recover any compensation for your damages.

Damages in Truck Accident Cases in Virginia

Generally speaking, there are no “caps,” or limits, to the amount you can recover in a truck accident case in Virginia.

This means that you can seek full compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Emergency transportation
• Hospitalization
• Surgery and other treatments
• Medications
• Medical equipment and devices
• Rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Ongoing and future medical care
• In-home assistance
• Lost income, wages, and benefits
• Loss of future earnings
• Lost earning capacity
• Physical and mental pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement

At Reinhardt | Harper | Davis, our Virginia truck accident lawyers help their clients seek maximum compensation for their losses, including past, current, and future damages. Whether you need help filing a personal injury claim after suffering catastrophic bodily injuries due to a truck accident, or you are seeking justice through a wrongful death lawsuit, our team is ready to fight for you.