West Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers Aid Victims of Highway Accidents
Helping West Virginians injured by negligent truck drivers and defective vehicles
In 1912, data were compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatalities and injuries in collisions between large trucks (gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 pounds) and other vehicles. Fatalities were four times greater, and injuries three times, greater for occupants of the other vehicle than for occupants of the truck. That comes as no surprise, given the physics of larger and smaller objects colliding at high speed. What is surprising is that the percentages of injuries and fatalities were virtually unchanged from the previous year.
If you are injured, or a loved one has been injured or killed because of a truck driver’s negligence or an improperly maintained vehicle, you should seek the counsel of an experienced West Virginia personal injury lawyer. Paulson & Nace, PLLC, our family owned and managed law firm, is ready to help protect your interests as we have helped so many others. We invite you to call on us.
What are some causes of large truck accidents in West Virginia?
Among the most common causes of catastrophic trucking accidents are:
- Driver fatigue. When trucking companies pay their drivers premiums for on-time or ahead-of-time delivery, or when pay depends on the number of miles driven during the pay period, drivers may be tempted to drive too many hours without rest. Fatigue impairs judgment and reaction time.
- Inadequate training or experience. Controlling a modern 18-wheeler requires a totally different skill set than operating a car or light truck. Its mass makes it difficult to stop or swerve suddenly without the risk of jackknifing or overturning. Keeping a massive vehicle moving safely requires the driver’s continuous attention, as well as the ability to see and interpret changing patterns in the traffic ahead and visualize the actions needed to negotiate them.
- Overloading or improper loading of cargo. An overloaded truck will not operate safely within the design specifications of its steering and braking. The cargo of an improperly loaded truck can shift during turns, causing the truck to overturn and destroy smaller vehicles in its immediate vicinity.
- Poorly maintained truck brakes and tires. The brakes of heavy trucks are powered by compressed air, delivered by air hoses to each axle. Leaks in the hoses or the compressed air tanks, or damaged or inoperable air compressors, can result in brake failure and a catastrophic accident. Cheap, retreaded tires often deteriorate, sending large fragments flying into nearby traffic.
- Aggressive, careless, reckless, or impaired driving. This includes speeding, following too closely, cutting into other vehicle’s lanes, failing to yield the right of way, driving at speeds inappropriate for road and weather conditions, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Inoperative or missing safety equipment. This includes broken or missing reflectors, lights, and warning devices, as well as uninstalled or missing under-ride protectors and splash guards.
If you or a loved one were injured in a collision with a large truck, you will need the counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer. You need a lawyer who knows both West Virginia motor vehicle laws and the Federal regulations governing interstate trucking: retention of driver logs, accident records, “black box” recordings, and other relevant data maintained by interstate trucking companies.
Our West Virginia lawyers protect your rights when truck collisions causes injury or death
Paulson & Nace, PLLC’s distinguished family of attorneys offers the compassionate, personal, and professional attention you deserve. We are widely recognized throughout West Virginia for both our comprehensive legal services and our aggressive advocacy for victims of motor vehicle and truck injuries and wrongful deaths. When you choose a personal injury lawyer from our practice to represent you, you are choosing a team that values families and family relationships. Please call 304-741-8079 or fill out our contact form to tell us your story in a no-obligation consultation. Our office is located at 3501 Maccorkle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25304.
We have dedicated our lives to helping individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted by motor vehicle and truck accidents. Let our family help you and yours.