Legal•Info

West Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer

Sharing America's highways with the trucks that transport the many goods and commodities we use is a necessary procedure. However, we all know how dangerous the outcomes from tractor-trailer accidents can be. When accidents between passenger vehicles and commercial tractor-trailers happen due to negligence, there are many qualified West Virginia truck accident lawyers who can help you obtain rightful compensation.

Between 1996 and 2000, there were 260 fatalities from truck accidents in West Virginia. That boils down to roughly 65 deaths each year—a significant number, even when compared to the larger amounts in more populated states. Many more are injured—often horribly—as a result of truck-related accidents.

A trucking accident occurs when large trailers (10,000-plus lbs.) collide with other vehicles or pedestrians. Around 500,000 trucking accidents occur every year in the United States; of this number, approximately 5,000 trucking accidents result in fatalities. In fact, one out of every eight traffic fatalities involves a trucking collision.

If you have been involved in this type of accident in West Virginia, you should quickly seek advice from a West Virginia truck accident lawyer. A West Virginia truck accident attorney specializes in this type of litigation, so you will stand a good chance of getting compensation for the losses, injuries, or damages sustained as the result of a truck-related accident.

An experienced West Virginia truck accident lawyer will be familiar with the laws and statutes related to truck accident claims in the state of West Virginia. Working with an attorney can ensure that your claim runs smoothly and could speed up the process considerably. Your attorney will line up expert witnesses and medical professionals, as well as eyewitnesses, in addition to filing the necessary paperwork on your behalf. If your claim does go to court, your attorney will argue your case in the courtroom and ensure that justice is upheld.

Trucking revenues totaled $610 billion last year, and revenues are estimated to nearly double by 2015. While commercial trucking growth is good news for the trucking companies and the economy, it is bad news for the cars, vans and SUVs that share the road with these potentially lethal giants. In tractor trailer accidents, 98 percent of fatalities are the results of individuals in the passenger vehicles dying.

From 1992 to 2002, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes increased upwards of 10 percent due to driver fatigue, unsafe vehicle operation, large unstable loads and defective equipment. Trucking injuries can be prevented if passenger vehicle drivers take special care when driving near tractor-trailers. If a trucking collision does occur, record as much information as possible, including names and contact information of witnesses. This information will then be given to a personal injury lawyer, who will use it towards obtaining a successful ruling in your case.

Whether you are claiming for wrongful death of a loved one, or for injuries sustained personally, you can rely on a West Virginia truck accident lawyer to do his or her best to get you the most compensation possible, making their services extremely worthwhile. In most cases, a personal injury lawyer will offer services on a contingency basis. This means that you won't pay anything until you win your case, at which point your attorney will deduct any relevant court fees, as well as the attorney's fees, from your settlement.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck, contact an attorney today. You can find an experienced, successful truck accident attorney by visiting the website of the American Bar Association.