Bridgeport Truck Accident Attorneys

Lawyers Representing Victims of Commercial Truck Accidents in Bridgeport, CT

When large commercial trucks are involved in collisions, people are more likely to be seriously injured. An 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or other commercial truck that crashes into a passenger vehicle can cause extensive damage. Due to the size and weight difference between a fully loaded semi-truck and a standard vehicle, the occupants of smaller vehicles will usually bear the brunt of the impact.

Truck accidents in the Bridgeport area may occur on Interstate 95, Route 8, local roads, and in commercial areas where large trucks make deliveries. Unlike many other types of car accidents, truck collision cases often involve multiple potentially liable parties, complex insurance coverage issues, and detailed federal regulations that govern the trucking industry. The attorneys at Tremont Sheldon P.C. have a comprehensive understanding of these issues, and we can provide the representation needed to resolve truck accident claims successfully.

Why Truck Accidents Can Cause Severe Injuries

A tractor-trailer truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, while an average passenger car weighs around 4,000 pounds. Because of this 20-to-1 weight difference, a truck will transfer massive force to a smaller vehicle when the vehicles collide. The lighter vehicle and its occupants will absorb most of the energy of the collision, and this can result in extensive damage and severe injuries.

The height difference between trucks and cars can create additional hazards. When a passenger vehicle slides under a truck's trailer in what is known as an underride accident, the top of the car can be sheared off, and the impact may result in fatal injuries to the vehicle's occupants. Many trailers lack adequate side guards to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath.

Trucks require much longer stopping distances than cars. A fully loaded truck traveling at highway speeds may need the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop. When a truck driver does not maintain a safe following distance or drives at an unsafe speed, they may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision. The resulting crash may occur at a high speed with devastating impact forces.

Commercial trucks also have large blind spots, sometimes called "no-zones," where truck drivers cannot see other vehicles. These blind spots exist directly in front of the cab, along both sides of the truck, and behind the trailer. When passenger vehicles travel in these blind spots, a truck driver may change lanes or make turns without seeing them, which can lead to serious accidents.

Cargo issues can lead to safety concerns as well. Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transport, causing the truck to become unstable and difficult to control. Cargo that falls from trucks onto the road can create hazards for nearby vehicles. Overloaded trucks are harder to control, more prone to tire blowouts, and require even longer stopping distances.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Understanding why truck accidents happen can help determine who may be held responsible and what evidence will be important in a case. At Tremont Sheldon P.C., we can address factors that may play a role in truck crashes, including:

• Distracted Driving: When truck drivers check text messages on their phones, use dispatch devices, eat meals, or engage in other activities while driving, they may fail to notice traffic conditions, miss important road signs, or react too slowly to prevent crashes.
• Traffic Violations: Running red lights, failing to yield right of way, making improper turns, following too closely, and exceeding speed limits are all violations that could lead to dangerous truck accidents.
• Intoxicated Driving: The use of alcohol and drugs is a serious problem in the trucking industry. Commercial truck drivers are prohibited from driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher, which is half the legal limit for other drivers. Drug use by truck drivers, which may include the use of illegal substances or the misuse of prescription medications, can also lead to accidents.
• Driver Fatigue: Federal hours-of-service regulations limit how long truck drivers can operate their vehicles without rest breaks. However, truck drivers may continue driving without receiving enough rest due to pressure from trucking companies to meet tight delivery schedules or compensation structures that reward drivers for completing more trips. Fatigue may cause a truck driver to fall asleep at the wheel, or it may affect their reaction times and their ability to drive safely and avoid an accident.
• Overloaded Trucks: When commercial trucks exceed weight limits, they can become dangerous. Overweight trucks are harder to steer and brake, and they may be more likely to roll over. Overloading can also increase the severity of truck crashes.
• Improper Maintenance: Trucking companies are required to maintain their fleets, ensuring that all trucks are in safe operating condition. Issues such as worn brakes, defective tires, broken lights, steering system problems, and trailer coupling failures can lead to truck accidents. Companies that cut corners on maintenance to save money may be liable for accidents that occur as a result.
• Unsafe Road Conditions: Construction zones, potholes, inadequate signage, poor lighting, snow or ice, and debris on roadways can create hazards that truck drivers must navigate carefully. A truck driver who fails to account for dangerous conditions may lose control, resulting in an accident. When road conditions contribute to accidents, government entities responsible for road maintenance may share liability.

Complex Legal Issues in Truck Accident Cases

Multiple parties may share responsibility for a truck accident. The truck driver may have caused an accident through negligence, but other parties may also be liable. The trucking company that employs the driver may be liable for accidents that occur while the driver is working. If the driver is an independent contractor rather than an employee, the company may still be liable if it failed to properly vet the contractor or exercised control over how the work was performed.

Cargo loading companies can be liable if improper loading contributed to an accident. Companies that lease trucks to carriers may have responsibilities for performing maintenance. Truck and parts manufacturers may be liable if defective equipment caused a crash. Maintenance companies hired to service trucks could be responsible if negligent repairs led to mechanical failures.

Federal trucking regulations address issues such as driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, drug and alcohol testing, and numerous other safety requirements. Our attorneys can uncover violations of these regulations, demonstrating that negligence by a truck driver or trucking company was responsible for an accident.

Trucking companies are required to maintain detailed records, including driver logs, maintenance records, inspection reports, drug test results, and hiring documents. These records can serve as crucial pieces of evidence in truck accident cases. Federal regulations require companies to preserve certain records, but companies may destroy or lose records if claims are not pursued promptly. Our legal team can act quickly to send preservation letters and obtain these critical documents before they disappear.

How Our Attorneys Handle Truck Accident Cases

Our approach to truck accident cases involves thorough investigation, aggressive advocacy, and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients. We will gather all available evidence from the scene of a truck accident, including police reports, witness statements, photographs, and video footage. We can work with accident reconstruction professionals to analyze the physical evidence and determine how the crash occurred.

We will consult with medical professionals to fully document a victim's injuries and understand their future medical needs. We can obtain opinions about a person's prognosis, the likelihood of permanent disability, and the costs of future care. We also work with economic professionals to calculate lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and other financial losses.

Throughout the process, our team will handle negotiations with insurance companies and the attorneys representing the liable parties. We will not accept lowball settlement offers that fail to account for the full extent of a person's damages. Our lawyers are prepared to take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation, and we have the litigation experience needed to present complex truck accident cases effectively to juries.

Contact Our Bridgeport, Connecticut Truck Accident Lawyers

Commercial truck accidents often lead to serious injuries, and the physical, emotional, and financial impact of these crashes can overwhelm victims and their families. Victims should not have to face these challenges alone. At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our lawyers have the knowledge, resources, and determination needed to handle complex truck accident cases. Contact our Bridgeport 18-wheeler accident attorneys today by calling 203-335-5145 to schedule your free consultation.