Bridgeport Truck Accident Law

A truck accident on one of the main highways running through Bridgeport is a terrifying sight. These crashes may leave wreckage strewn across the road, injured victims, and traffic backed up for miles. Unfortunately, this is always a possibility when you have vehicles that weigh dozens of tons sharing the road with much smaller passenger vehicles. Due to Bridgeport’s size and proximity to important transit routes, it sees more than its fair share of truck accidents.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation. However, time is limited, and you need to act fact. Let us help. Call The Dodd Law Firm at 203-272-1883 to set up a consultation right away.

Truck Accidents in Bridgeport

The Connecticut Crash Data Repository makes it easy to track accident trends across the state. In the last three years, there were over 6,000 truck accidents in Connecticut. While the majority of those did not result in any injuries, 87 led to fatal injuries and almost 200 resulted in serious injuries. While weather is often cited as the main reason for serious crashes, the majority of truck accidents in Connecticut occurred in dry, clear weather conditions. Accidents were generally spread out evenly throughout the year. In terms of day and time, they were clustered in the standard work hours on weekdays.

How Truck Accidents Happen

Luckily, the Connecticut Crash Data Repository also has data on what causes these serious accidents. Some of the most common issues that lead to truck accidents in Connecticut include:

• Failing to stay in your proper lane
• Following too closely
• Failing to yield right of way
• Swerving to avoid obstacle or because of wind
• Improper passing
• Improper turns
• Overcorrecting or oversteering
• Ignoring traffic signs and lights

Cell phones are a factor in quite a few collisions. Manually using a cellphone is one of the most common contributing factors, although there are also truck accidents caused by distractions inside the vehicle, distractions outside the vehicle, passenger distractions, and talking on the phone.

Knowing the type of truck crashes that happen can make it easier to figure out just how these collisions happen. In order from most to least common, these are the types of collisions reported in Connecticut:

• Rear end crashes are far and away the most common, which is in line with trends for other types of vehicle crashes
• Sideswipe collisions involving two vehicles going the same direction are also relatively common
• Angled crashes may occur at intersections or when someone is attempting to avoid a crash
• Head-on accidents are among the most serious, often resulting in severe or fatal injuries
• Sideswipe accidents involving two vehicles traveling in different directions vary quite a bit in severity, depending on the speed of both vehicles

Quite a few collisions are at the result of drivers not knowing the limitations of commercial trucks. While commercial trucks are often the most efficient way to transport goods across the country, they are also very limited in some ways. They have large blind spots on all four sides, which means that they often have multiple vehicles in their blind spots in heavy traffic. Additionally, their large size means that they need much more time to come to a stop than other vehicles. If someone cuts off a large truck, the chances that they can stop in time are slim.

Truck drivers are also a result of driver fatigue and overwork. In recent years, the truck driver shortage has become increasingly urgent. The work load has not diminished during this time, which means there are fewer drivers doing the same amount of work—or even more. This means that trucking companies are often putting inexperienced or undertrained drivers on the road simply to get loads finished. It also means that some trucking companies are pressuring drivers to ignore hours of service regulations and do whatever it takes to finish a load. When drivers are fatigued, they are much more likely to make avoidable mistakes.

Evidence in Truck Collision Claims

Truck accidents have a wide range of evidence available, which can help you when it’s time to start your claim. Some of the most common types of evidence include:

• Photos and video footage of the crash scene, including both vehicles
• Skid marks and other signs of damage to the roadway and public structures
• Driving logs
• Electronic logging devices, which are required on commercial trucks per the FMCSA
• The trucking company’s hiring practices and protocols

How Our Team Can Help You Fight for Compensation

Evidence is a substantial part of your personal injury claim, but evidence isn’t worth anything if you don’t know how to use it. That’s exactly why it’s so important to work with a Bridgeport attorney with extensive experience in truck accident claims. These cases are often quite complicated; it’s not just you and the other driver’s insurance company. The truck driver may or may not have their own insurance provider involved in the claim. Their employer and the owner of the cargo will also want to be involved in the negotiation of any compensation. Working with multiple insurance companies, none of whom want to take liability for a collision, can be a nightmare. It’s even worse if you’re trying to recover from serious injuries.

That’s where we step in to make this process as stress-free as possible for you. Our team knows what it takes to hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable, and we’re determined to build the strongest case possible for you. The sooner you connect with us, the easier it is for us to gather relevant evidence, start piecing together your case, and put pressure on the insurance company to do what is right.

Reach Out to The Dodd Law Firm to Discuss Your Legal Options

Don’t wait a moment longer to find out if you are entitled to compensation after your Bridgeport truck accident. Let’s talk about your options now. Just call The Dodd Law Firm at 203-272-1883 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation.