Call Now 202-960-4596
Getting into an accident with a commercial truck can lead to devastating results. With large medical bills to worry about, the last thing you need to worry about is having your claim challenged by the trucking company's insurance company. After a truck crash, your first step after receiving medical treatment is to reach out to a Washington, DC truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Trucking accident cases must be thoroughly investigated since there are usually more parties involved in the accident than in a regular car accident claim. Remember, as soon as the accident occurs, the trucking company will dispatch investigators immediately to the scene to gather evidence against you to protect its bottom line. You need a lawyer on our side who can act just as quickly to protect your rights.
As soon as you hire Regan Zambri Long, our lawyers will dispatch a response team to go secure the scene of the truck crash site and gather the evidence needed to prove fault. It’s very important that this be done right away because the trucking companies can lose or purposely destroy evidence that will be crucial to proving liability in the truck accident.
Our DC truck accident lawyers can help you navigate the complexities of a legal claim following a truck crash. We have decades of experience in personal injury law in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. In a recent case, we recovered a settlement of $15.2 million for the family of a dump truck accident victim.
Trucking companies hire large insurance companies to negotiate settlements on their behalf and keep costs low. Truck accident victims are offered unsatisfactory settlements that won’t even pay the property damage involved in the accident. That is why you should hire a truck accident attorney who understands the law, has experience dealing with trucking companies and insurance carriers, and knows how to make sure that you get the justice you and your loved one deserve.
Truck accident cases are much more complex than car accidents. Unlike dealing with your insurance and/or the other driver’s insurance, you will be dealing with multiple parties such as the truck driver, the trucking company, their insurance, and possibly third-party brokers.
To determine liability, many factors will be taken into account such as:
It’s imperative that those who are liable for your accident are discovered quickly. To figure out liability, an experienced DC truck accident attorney is needed to help you with your claim.
Truck accidents are those that involve commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, garbage trucks, tow trucks, cement trucks, tractor trailer, big rigs, tanker trucks, and more. They are handled differently than car accidents in many ways. Not only are there more parties that can be held liable for your accident, but you are dealing with a larger and heavier vehicle than a typical passenger car. The larger the vehicle is, the more likely the accident will result in catastrophic injuries that can take years to recover from.
Other reasons as to what makes truck accidents different include:
Semi truck drivers not only require specialized licenses, but they also have to follow additional regulations such as federal limits on how long truck drivers can drive each 24-hour period. Drivers also must track their driving and break time, as well as subject their vehicles to routine maintenance and weight checks.
Rules like those that limit 18-wheelers drive time were created because of the unsightly work conditions suffered by truck drivers. Despite these federal regulations, it still is common for drivers to be pressured into driving longer than allowed and falsifying break or driving records.
If there are issues with these federal regulations, the driver and their employer may be subject to legal action regardless of whether the regulations were knowingly violated. If these issues directly caused the accident in question, you may be entitled to additional compensation. A Washington, DC truck accident lawyer will understand the additional factors that affect semi truck accidents and will be able to investigate any issues to ensure you have the strongest case possible.
In addition to these federal regulations, many localities like DC have additional rules that truck drivers must follow. For example, DC limits what streets semi trucks and other commercial vehicles can use, though trucks are completely barred from only a few streets. It’s the driver’s responsibility to know about and adhere to such regulations, so drivers new to the area may unknowingly violate local laws.
Semi truck accidents are extremely dangerous and can affect dozens of cars in seconds.
In 2015, a truck driver plowed through 453 feet of still traffic before coming to a stop; Six people were killed and others were injured. That driver was found to have been on drugs.
In 2018, 6% of drivers involved in fatal accidents tested positive for at least one drug. Though that number may be skewed as 60% of those drivers weren’t tested. It’s unclear why the drivers weren’t tested for illegal substances despite impairment being one of the main factors in fatal tractor trailer accidents.
Such police oversight could affect your claim. That’s why you must work with an experienced semi truck accident lawyer who will know how to handle such complex cases.
Federal authorities say hazardous cargo was involved in over 1,400 of the 4,862 fatal truck accidents in 2018. And of those truck crashes involving hazardous cargo, more than half were carrying flammable liquids such as gasoline or fuel oil.
That hazardous material may have subjected you to additional risks and injuries, which could affect your case and compensation claim.
Truckers don’t haul cargo across the country as private citizens; they work for someone. That means truck accidents involve the driver’s company, that company’s insurance provider, and truck or part manufacturers.
If the semi truck’s cargo was found to have contributed to the accident, the manufacturer and packing company also may be at fault.
Additionally, trucking accidents often involve several vehicles, which can complicate fault declarations and claims.
There are so many potential parties involved in semi truck accidents, and each party likely will call on their insurance provider for help, leading to double the initial party count. You must work with a Washington DC truck accident lawyer who can navigate such complex cases so you get the compensation you need.
A leading Washington DC truck accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long is ready to help you claim the compensation you deserve for your losses. You may be going through a difficult time, but upon meeting with a winning truck accident attorney at our firm, you will feel confident about the path forward.
After a free consultation, we will investigate and discover relevant facts and information, helping you build the strongest case possible with rock-solid evidence to prove the fault of the truck driver and/or trucking company. We will help you gather evidence and answer any questions you have along the way.
We have helped numerous victims of truck accidents secure the money they need to pay for all injury or death-related experiences, in addition to compensation for the physical and emotional suffering. We know the ins and outs of the laws surrounding commercial trucks and can successfully prove the negligence or wrongful act that caused your damages.
What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?
Because commercial trucks are so large and weigh so much they are more likely to cause serious injuries and damages in an accident. Regan Zambri Long has extensive experience handling many types of truck accidents, including:
What Damages Can I Collect for a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents can cause all kinds of injuries, from minor ones to catastrophic injuries that could affect you for the rest of your life and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. These injuries include:
When you’re looking into what to ask a truck accident lawyer, inquire about the potential damages you’re looking at depending on what kind of injury you have. If you get a seat belt injury such as whiplash, then you probably won’t have to take off work or pay for expensive medical treatment. You’ll be able to get back to normal pretty soon after your accident and may be wondering if you should sue for minor injuries following a truck accident.
On the other hand, paralysis can completely upend your life. Along with paying high medical bills, you might not be able to work anymore or participate in activities you’ve always enjoyed.
Additionally, there may be other costs you’re not even thinking about, such as:
It can be hard to pinpoint just how much some damages are worth, but your lawyer will be able to give you an idea.
How is Negligence Established in a Truck Accident?
You’ll want to figure out exactly who is responsible for your accident. You may think it’s the truck driver, but it’s not always so easy. When you meet your new truck accident lawyer, ask who the defendant might be in your case.
In a truck accident claim, your attorney will need to prove the following:
Until you call a truck accident lawyer, you really won’t know the answer to this question. That’s why it’s best to get in touch with them as soon as possible after your accident occurs.
What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?
For your truck accident case to be successful, you’ll need to provide certain evidence to your lawyer. They’ll need the police report or to know which police station you filed your report with so they can collect it.
The same applies when it comes to your medical records. You can either gather your records or tell your lawyer the name of the hospital you went to and they’ll retrieve the records for you.
You should also share evidence you collected at the scene. This includes photos, witness statements, and their contact info, and the driver/the driver’s company.
Your lawyer will take all the evidence you give them and contact the defendant to work out a settlement. Since going to trial is costly and time-consuming – and can result in the defendant having to pay a lot more in damages – they will likely offer you settlement instead.
All you have to do is stay in touch with your lawyer and get the proper medical treatment you need until you feel better. If you have an ongoing injury that won’t heal or could take a long time to heal, then your lawyer will consult with you about going after compensation for future medical bills as well.
The Federal Motor Safety Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains rules and standards to promote safety in the trucking industry. Some of the most important FMCSA regulations include:
Is It Worth Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Semi trucks are a common sight on highways and city streets. There’s no avoiding them despite the dangers that come with driving near one. These vehicles can weigh around 15,000 pounds, making them unable to stop short or turn on a dime to avoid your car.
Federal data shows that accidents involving large trucks are on the rise and have been since 2009. Semi truck crashes may involve illegal company behavior, authority oversight and laws unfamiliar to regular drivers. That’s why you must work with an experienced DC semi truck accident lawyer who will fight for you and the compensation you deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you may not be ready to file a lawsuit right away. You may be waiting to hear from the trucking company’s insurance adjuster, or you may be involved in settlement negotiations. Whatever your situation, you need to file a lawsuit within a specific period of time that is set by Washington, DC’s statute of limitations.
In Washington DC, the statute of limitations for personal injury and property damage claims is up to three years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the decedent’s family has up to two years from the date of death to file a claim. Our truck accident lawyers will help you all the way, schedule a free consultation with us to discuss about your case.
