Truck Accident Lawyers in New Britain, CT

A fully-loaded tractor-trailer can easily carry up to 80,000 pounds. Imagine that much weight going up against a small passenger vehicle in a crash, or even the amount of damage it can cause in a single-vehicle accident. Entire Connecticut roadways have been shut down by a rolled-over commercial vehicle, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

When you’re involved in a truck accident, there’s a very real risk of serious or catastrophic injuries. It is crucial to protect yourself right away by connecting with a truck accident lawyer in New Britain. Call The Dodd Law Firm at 203-272-1883 to find out how we can help you through this process.

The Dangers of Truck Collisions

If you look at crash statistics, it’s clear that truck accidents pose a major threat to occupants of smaller passenger vehicles. Per the FMCSA, roughly 1% of all large truck crashes in 2020 were fatal and 24% of these crashes caused injuries. Interstate highways and rural roads are most likely to see these fatal crashes, and the vast majority of these collisions occurred on weekdays.

Why are truck crashes so much more dangerous than a crash involving passenger vehicles? A fully-loaded truck could weigh over 20 times more than a standard passenger vehicle.

Even at very low speeds, that type of weight difference could leave the smaller vehicle crushed and its occupants seriously injured. However, these crashes usually don’t happen at low speeds—they happen on highways, where both drivers are likely going well over 60 MPH. Between private property damage, injuries, and the loss of cargo, truck accidents could easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

It’s not just the size of the truck that makes it dangerous. The shape of tractor-trailers also increases the likelihood of an accident. Tractor-trailers have massive blind spots to their front, sides, and back. Even being in the vicinity of a large truck could put you at risk of a crash. While long-time truck drivers are likely experienced enough to drive safely with these blind spots in mind, newer drivers may be less aware of their limitations.

Preventing Truck Accidents in Connecticut

As a passenger vehicle driver, there’s still a lot you can do to keep yourself safe and minimize the risk of a truck accident. These tips may help:

• Give them space. The easiest way to avoid a crash is to avoid being close to a truck. Many drivers already do this naturally, but if you don’t, try to train yourself to watch closely for tractor-trailers.
• Avoid ending up in truck clusters. It’s easy to get stuck in the middle of three or four tractor-trailers all driving the same speed. While this generally doesn’t cause any issues, it can become dangerous if you become stuck in a truck’s blind spot. Be particularly careful of this during weekdays, when truck travel tends to be at its highest.
• Stay out of blind spots. If you can’t avoid being in the vicinity of a tractor-trailer, at least stay out of its blind spots. When you pass, pass quickly and carefully to get back into their line of sight.
• Be particularly cautious during poor weather. Driving a truck is much harder than driving a conventional passenger vehicle. It’s even harder when the weather is bad and visibility is low. When driving in unsafe weather conditions, give extra space to tractor-trailers.

Holding Negligent Drivers and Companies Accountable

When a truck accident does happen, who’s to blame? As is the case with most vehicle crashes, a negligent driver is usually the at-fault party. While most truck drivers are well-trained and very careful about driving safety, there are those who take unnecessary risks. Furthermore, sometimes the blame doesn’t even lie with individual drivers—it lies with the company that hired them.

The FMCSA has strict hours-of-service regulations in place for truck drivers. These regulations limit how long drivers can stay on the road, how soon they must take a break after beginning a drive (even if they take a break in the middle), and how much time they must have off after driving a certain amount of hours. When drivers violate these regulations, they run the risk of driving while fatigued. This can be just as dangerous as driving while impaired.

When drivers violate these regulations, it’s not always of their own volition. In fact, the pressure often comes from their employers. In an effort to get loads delivered on time and maximize income, some trucking companies urge drivers to ignore hours-of-service requirements, lie about their driving hours, or take the risk of a citation. If they do this and a driver causes a crash, the company could be held accountable for their negligence.

How We Can Help You Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

Since truck accidents can cause such substantial damage, there may be a lot of compensation on the table after a crash. With an attorney, you can focus on recovering while your lawyer handles the legal side of your accident. In Connecticut, you only have two years to file a claim, so it’s important to start early.

After an accident, a lot starts happening immediately. The truck driver’s employer will start investigating the accident, their legal team will jump into action, and the employer’s insurance provider will begin looking for evidence they can use. None of this helps you. They are trying to limit their own financial losses and protect themselves legally. You absolutely need someone who puts your needs first and is only looking out for your best interests.

That’s where we come in. Our extensive experience with truck accidents makes us an obvious choice for your claim. We’re ready to delve into the evidence, use it to build a case, and fight aggressively for every dollar you deserve.

Contact The Dodd Law Firm Now and Start Your Truck Accident Claim

Ready to start your claim and get The Dodd Law Firm on your side? Let’s talk. Send us a message online or give us a call at 203-272-1883 to set up a consultation right now.