Connecticut Truck Accident Attorneys
Truck accidents frequently occur throughout the State of Connecticut. In 2021, there were 5,543 collisions involving heavy trucks. If you or a close family member recently suffered severe injuries in a truck crash, you should contact the Connecticut truck accident lawyers at Carter Mario.
Commercial trucks carry high-limit insurance policies. This high financial exposure means insurance companies aggressively defend truck accident lawsuits. Unlike other personal injury attorneys who are unwilling to fight powerful insurance companies, the Connecticut truck accident lawyers at Carter Mario have spent over 30 years successfully fighting to protect the rights of injured victims.
We Work to Get You the Care You Need
Collisions involving commercial trucks cause unsuspecting motorists to suffer life-altering injuries. Victims injured by negligent truck drivers then require intensive medical treatment, which is neither free nor cheap. At Carter Mario, our experienced Connecticut truck accident attorneys will fight to get you the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, trust Carter Mario Law Firm to help. Contact our team today at 203-876-2711 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
Know the Risks of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents, including tractor trailer accidents are risky, if not deadly, events. While collisions involving regular automobiles often cause victims to suffer soft tissue injuries, truck accidents cause victims to suffer more serious injuries. Specifically, trucking accident victims suffer:
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Severe lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones
- Wrongful death
What Makes a Truck Accident Different?
The size and mass of commercial trucks make truck accidents different from other types of motor vehicle collisions. The weight of a commercial truck means an impact involves more kinetic energy. As a result, people in vehicles struck by commercial trucks are more likely to suffer catastrophic or lethal injuries.
What To Do If You’re Hit By a Commercial Truck
Your priorities following an accident should be to obtain medical treatment to ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated and to identify and collect evidence and information which can be used to build a strong case against the negligent driver. In addition, you should avoid certain actions which could weaken your truck accident claim.
Truck Accident Claim Do’s and Don’ts
You must seek medical attention immediately following a crash involving a commercial truck. You should also call 911 and report the collision. While you should also check on the status of the other driver, you should avoid discussing the collision.
What Should You Do?
To strengthen your claim, you should make efforts to gather evidence. Specifically, you should identify possible witnesses and obtain their names and contact information. You should also document the scene where the accident occurred by taking photographs of your vehicle and the truck.
What Should You Avoid?
Do not speak with the truck driver’s insurance company. Their goal in a truck accident case is to gather evidence to build a defense or to deny your claim. If you speak with the truck driver’s insurance company without first retaining legal counsel, you may accidentally provide a statement which could weaken your claim.
After the Truck Accident
Following a serious truck accident, you should focus on your medical treatment. If your injuries are severe, you should consult your primary care provider for a referral to a specialist such as a physical or occupational therapist. If the truck driver’s insurance company offers you a financial settlement, you should consult a Connecticut truck accident lawyer before signing a settlement agreement.
What are Your Next Steps?
You should maintain a detailed list of the facilities where you received medical treatment along with your medical bills. If your injuries prevent you from working, you should obtain work notes from your treating physicians. Finally, attend all of your medical appointments.
Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident in Connecticut?
If the truck driver committed an act of negligence which caused the collision, they are legally responsible. If the truck driver were an employee of a trucking company, the company would also be liable under a respondeat superior theory. However, the trucking company likely faces no liability if the truck driver was employed as an independent contractor.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, trust Carter Mario Law Firm to help. Contact our team today at (203) 876-2711 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
Establishing Negligence
To win a truck accident lawsuit, you need to prove the truck driver caused the collision and your injuries by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%. Additionally, under Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence statute, you must also prove your level of negligence, if any, does not exceed 50%. You have a better chance of proving the truck driver’s negligence if you obtain evidence such as black box data, travel logs, maintenance records, cargo logs, and post-accident drug test results.
Damages You May Recover from a Truck Accident Claim
Under Connecticut law, you can claim compensatory and non-compensatory damages in a personal injury case. You can claim your past and future medical expenses and lost wages as compensatory damages. With regard to non-compensatory damages, you can claim the physical pain and mental trauma you suffered as a result of the collision and your injuries.
How a Connecticut Truck Accident Lawyer Helps
Both Federal and State law heavily regulate trucking companies. For example, truck drivers must undergo specialized training and hold commercial driver’s licenses. In addition to investigating the facts of your accident, a Connecticut truck accident lawyer can obtain relevant records regarding the truck driver’s background and retain expert witnesses such as an accident reconstructionist and a medical doctor.
Connecticut Truck Accident FAQ
Injured victims and their families often find their lives severely disrupted. In addition to being injured, truck accident victims often cannot work or resume their regular activities. At Carter Mario, our skilled truck accident lawyers offer free and confidential case evaluations.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
The trucking industry is heavily regulated due to the heavy and sometimes dangerous cargo loads carried by commercial trucks. Sadly, human negligence still causes large truck accidents. According to the Federal Government, truck accidents are commonly caused by the following:
- Negligent driving
- Distracted driving
- Improper maintenance
- Driver fatigue
- Excessive cargo loads
- License issues
- Excessively harsh working conditions
What Are Truck “No-Zones?”
Commercial trucks are large vehicles which transport tractor trailers. Accordingly, they have several blind spots where drivers cannot see other vehicles. These are known as “no-zones” and include both sides of the cargo trailer and the rear of the cargo trailer.
How Can I Hold a Truck Driver or Trucking Company Liable?
Regarding the trucking company, you may be able to hold it accountable if it failed to maintain the vehicle properly. You can hold the truck driver liable if they committed an act of negligence which caused the collision. You may also be able to hold the trucking company responsible if it hired or retained an incompetent driver.
How Can I Get Compensation for My Injuries?
If your case cannot be resolved via a settlement, you must provide testimony in court regarding your injuries. Additionally, you will have to present your medical records and bills at trial. If your injuries left you permanently disabled, testimony by an expert medical witness might also be required to increase your chances of obtaining compensation.
How Long Do I Have to Sue After a Truck Accident?
You have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. This is because the statute of limitations in Connecticut for personal injury claims is two years. Your claim will be barred if you fail to file a lawsuit within two years.
Trust Our 30+ Years of Experience
The Connecticut truck accident attorneys at Carter Mario have been successfully representing injured truck accident victims for over 30 years. Our personal injury lawyers have obtained over One Billion Dollars in financial compensation during this period. Contact us today for a free consultation.
