West Virginia Truck Accident Attorney
Experiencing long-term, life-altering injuries in a truck accident can lead to permanent changes in your quality of life and ability to work and support yourself and your family. If the truck accident was caused by another party, like a negligent truck driver or an equipment malfunction, the other party may be liable for the damages linked to your injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, it is helpful to contact a West Virginia truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Emergency medical care should be pursued immediately after your accident. Next, your lawyer from Salango Legal Firm can step in on your behalf to begin collecting evidence in support of your claim to collect the compensation you deserve for the costs linked to your injuries.
Common Injuries from Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are a serious problem in the United States. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large trucks and buses were involved in 4,998 fatal crashes in 2020, and involved in 108,000 injury crashes. When a large truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the passenger vehicle are at significantly greater risk of being seriously injured or killed due to the higher operating height and greater weight of large trucks.
Some of the most common injuries experienced in truck accidents are:
- Traumatic brain injury or TBI – when you experience a bump or blow to the head or sudden jolting motion, your brain can strike the inside of your skull. This can cause permanent changes in your brain chemistry, impacting your ability to concentrate, and can even lead to changes in your personality. A TBI must be identified through expert assessment, and your West Virginia truck accident lawyer can help you schedule appointments with medical experts to assess any damage to your brain.
- Back and neck injury – an injury to the back or neck can lead to the need for surgery, ongoing pain management medications, and rehabilitation. Your damages are meant to cover the present and future medical costs linked to your injuries, which include rehabilitation, medications, and other related treatments and costs.
- Broken bones – when large trucks collide with passenger vehicles, they often run over the passenger vehicle, which means the truck rides over into the passenger chassis of the vehicle. This can lead to crushing injuries and broken bones, which can cause permanent disability.
- Spinal cord injury – spinal cord injuries can lead to permanent paralysis, generally from the point of the injury on the spinal cord and below. These types of injuries can impact bodily function, sense, and movement, and lead to permanent occupational disability and ongoing pain and suffering.
The types of injuries that may be experienced in 18-wheeler crashes and large truck accidents can be serious and life-threatening. Recovering from these types of injuries can take time, and the assistance of a West Virginia truck accident attorney can be essential throughout the process to ensure you collect what you deserve.
Causes of At-Fault Truck Accidents
Whether the driver, the driver’s employer, or a part of the truck itself, when the truck accident was caused by someone or something else, you will be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. One of the most common causes of at-fault large truck accidents is drowsy driving.
Large truck drivers often have long shifts and huge distances to cover during them. Without adequate rest between shifts, they are more likely to be drowsy, and also to cause accidents on the road. Being fatigued or drowsy slows reaction times, and the slow reaction times of large trucks further compound the dangers associated with this.
Driver fatigue or drowsy driving is caused by:
- Lack of adequate sleep
- Long or extended work hours
- Strenuous work-related activities
- Engaging in strenuous non-work activities
- A combination of other factors
When a driver gets behind the wheel while drowsy, they cannot drive safely, and may be liable for any damages that they cause in an accident.
Connect with Salango Legal Firm for Help with Your Truck Accident Injuries
The sooner you have a West Virginia truck accident attorney helping on your claim, the sooner you can focus on recovering from your injuries. If you have lost a loved one to a truck accident, we can also assist in the filing of a wrongful death claim to recover the economic losses like lost income that result from the truck accident.
When another party was at fault for the accident, you are entitled to damages. Accurately measuring what you are owed, drafting a claim, then negotiating a fair and complete settlement can be difficult, and your West Virginia truck accident attorney from Salango Legal Firm is here to assist you through every step of the process. Contact our personal injury law firm today.