Middletown Truck Accident Law

It’s no secret that traffic accidents are on the rise. An early look at 2021 accident data shows a startling increase in fatalities across the board, a trend that does not leave out commercial truck accidents. When compared to other types of automobile crashes, truck accidents tend to be far more severe and more likely to lead to catastrophic or fatal injuries.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, don’t wait any longer to find out if you are entitled to compensation. The sooner you connect with a truck accident lawyer in Middletown, CT, the sooner they can begin building your case. Call The Dodd Law Firm at 475-275-8649 now to set up a consultation.

Truck Accidents in the United States

Commercial trucks are the backbone of the American economy, making basic goods, supplies, and luxury items available in every part of the country. However, these trucks are also incredibly dangerous when unsafely loaded, driven by a careless driver, or plagued with defects.

Prior to 2021, truck accidents in the United States had started to decrease. There were 4,965 truck accident fatalities in 2020, a slight decrease from the year before. Over 70% of those fatalities were occupants of the other vehicle.

Over 25% of fatal crashes occurred on interstates, and over 50% took place in rural areas. Accidents are far more likely to happen during the day on weekdays, although accidents that do happen on the weekend are more likely to take place at nighttime.

While truck accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, this information does help drivers know where and when they should be extra cautious. Since highways are a common location for truck accidents, be careful on local roads like Route 9, Interstate 91, and Route 17.

Unfortunately, the downward trend of fatal truck collisions saw a swift reversal in 2021. Early analysis shows that fatal crashes involving large trucks saw a 13% increase in 2021.

What Causes Truck Collisions?

Truck accidents can be traced back to a variety of driver errors, vehicle malfunctions, and flaws in the road. It’s interesting to note that the NHTSA reports that 20% of all truck drivers involved in collisions had previously been involved in another crash, and nearly 20% of truck drivers in fatal crashes had a prior conviction for speeding. Unsafe driving habits and patterns may be a serious threat to others on the road.

Some of the commonly reported causes of truck accidents include:

• Speeding, either driving above the speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions
• Unsafe lane changes or turns
• Failing to yield right of way
• Driving while impaired, distracted, or fatigued
• Inexperienced drivers
• Inclement weather
• An unbalanced truckload
• Poorly maintained roads
• Dysfunctional truck or truck components

The issues that cause other types of car accidents are the same reasons that truck collisions happen—however, the risks are far greater. While an unsafe lane change by the driver of a passenger vehicle may lead to a minor sideswipe accident, an unsafe lane change by a truck driver could lead to a crushed vehicle and multiple fatalities.

Damage Caused by Truck Accidents

Truck accidents cause more property damage and bodily harm than other types of collisions. When fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh dozens of times more than a standard passenger vehicle. That amount of weight traveling at any speed, no matter how low, can completely destroy a much smaller vehicle. Considering that most collisions happen on high-speed roadways, the potential for serious harm is even greater.

Property damage is essentially guaranteed in a truck crash. Any involved passenger vehicles are likely to be totaled. In addition, you may see significant damage to medians, guardrails, underpasses, and other public property. This can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair—in some cases, the damage is even greater.

Bodily harm is also a major risk in any truck collision. The fatality rate for truck crashes saw a steep climb in 2021, and further analysis of 2021 data may shine some light on this increase. Victims of truck accidents may suffer broken bones, lacerations, soft tissue damage, an infection caused by road rash, whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations. The costs associated with these injuries are often financially devastating for victims.

What You Need to Get Fair Compensation

Knowing how expensive a truck accident can be, you may wonder how you can fight for fair compensation after a collision. It all comes down to timing and evidence. Timing is important—under Connecticut law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for compensation. However, in general, you want to start your claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less evidence you have available to you.

Evidence comes in a variety of forms. If you have pictures of the crash scene, bills from a local facility like Middlesex Hospital, and a copy of the police report, all of that can be very useful for your claim. There are other types of evidence your lawyer can request, including the trucking logs, the black box from the truck, and any information on the driver’s previous crashes or citations.

How the Team at The Dodd Law Firm Can Help

At The Dodd Law Firm, we understand that a truck accident can cause untold financial and physical damage to families. We’ve also seen how insurance companies will work as hard as they can to avoid paying out fair compensation to victims like you. Our approach to every case is aggressive and results-focused.

While most claims are settled out of court during negotiations, we are also prepared to go to court if the insurance company will not negotiate in good faith. Through a thorough investigation, we work to figure out what happened, who is liable, and what it will take to get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Us Now to Set Up a Consultation

We’re ready to talk to you, learn more about your claim, and start working when you are. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 475-275-8649 or sending us a message online.