Virginia Tractor Trailer Accidents Lawyers

Marks & Harrison is committed to helping individuals and families who have been injured in accidents involving trucks and tractor trailers, also known as 18-wheelers. We routinely represent clients in Richmond and  throughout the state of Virginia, and we place our clients’ interests above all else. We vow, within the bounds of honesty, fairness and ethics, to use all of our strengths and resources to achieve a just result in all that we undertake.

By their very nature, accidents involving passenger vehicles and tractor trailers may result in serious injuries. Nationwide, there are an estimated 500,000 tractor trailer accidents each year. In 2002, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 130,000 injuries and nearly 5,000 deaths related to large truck accidents. One in every eight traffic fatalities is attributed to a collision with a tractor trailer. When the average passenger vehicle weighing 3,596 pounds confronts a commercial tractor trailer weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, the outcome is predictable. The truck driver usually escapes with minor injuries while the occupants of the passenger vehicle are seldom as lucky – they may be seriously injured or die.

The three main reasons truck accidents are so dangerous are their size, average speed, and driver fatigue. These are heavy, large pieces of machinery that routinely travel at speeds topping 60-70 miles per hour. Driver fatigue continues to be a growing problem. Truck drivers are under constant pressure to move cargo -- so much so, that 16-hour days are not uncommon. A recent study revealed that 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers reported they had fallen asleep at the wheel during the last 30-day period. It’s no wonder that people are killed when one in five drivers admits to falling asleep, leaving these giant vehicles without an attentive driver. Other causes of tractor trailer accidents:

• Negligence
• Tire blowouts
• Improper loading
• Sudden braking
• Drug and alcohol use

Neck and back injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, loss of limb, and brain injuries (TBI) are only some of the serious injuries commonly associated with tractor trailer and passenger vehicle accidents. Insurance companies begin investigating the cause of accidents almost immediately after the accident occurs. They promptly hire investigators and experts in an effort to limit their liability. When Marks & Harrison truck accident attorneys are hired quickly, we can give you the same advantage the insurance company has.

While insurance is designed to cover some costs, it cannot address all the economic damage that a vehicle related accident may cause. Sometimes in truck collisions the insurance company will deny a claim to protect the driving record of the truck driver. Truckers must follow specific state and federal regulations. It is important to retain a law firm that understands these regulations. Whether it’s your insurance company or the guilty party’s, insurance is a business whose goal is to minimize costs.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer and need a skilled trucking accident lawyer, please contact the Richmond truck accident lawyers of Marks & Harrison. We look forward to meeting you and discussing you claim. Your initial consultation with us is free and confidential. Our lawyers will analyze your case and advise whether you are entitled to compensation. If we don't think you need an attorney, we will tell you right away.

At Marks & Harrison, we maintain the highest standards of integrity, honesty, professionalism and competence. Contact us today by calling toll free at 1-800-283-2202. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also submit a Case Evaluation online.

To review the experience of our tractor trailer accident attorneys, please see:
Recent Significant Results
Firm News & Press

For more information on personal injury cases in Virginia, please review:
Personal Injury
Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Personal Injury Legal Glossary
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

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