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All drivers have experienced the unsettling feeling of being surrounded by large, looming commercial trucks on the highway. When a truck outweighs your vehicle by as much as 76,000 pounds, it’s a significant safety hazard that can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries in a crash. Sadly, driver negligence isn’t the only cause of deadly truck accidents in New Haven.
A truck accident lawyer in New Haven can guide you through all the legal steps required to make a claim and help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve — call (203) 888-8888.
A surprising number of truck accidents result from negligent truck maintenance despite stringent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations for required inspections, routine maintenance, repairs, and record-keeping. Drivers sharing the roadways with commercial trucks can’t demand to see maintenance records or look for “check engine” lights, but there may be some noticeable signs of truck neglect, including the following:
Encountering a truck with any of the above notable maintenance issues is a red flag. When possible, put a substantial distance between your vehicle and the inadequately maintained truck.
Vehicle maintenance problems and equipment failures contribute significantly to truck accidents — according to a study by the FMCSA, brake failures caused or contributed to as many as 30% of commercial truck accidents. Steering system problems and worn tires also cause many truck accidents. Common types of truck accidents resulting from poor maintenance and repair problems include:
When a poorly maintained truck causes a serious accident with injuries to vulnerable motorists in smaller vehicles, the injury victims or their survivors have a right to claim compensation for their economic and non-economic losses.
Even when truck accident survivors are fortunate enough to escape with relatively minor injuries, financial hardship can happen quickly, with as little as a single emergency room bill and a few days of lost pay. Sadly, it’s more common for truck accident victims in New Haven and elsewhere to experience serious, catastrophic, or fatal injuries.
Common damages recovered in negligent truck maintenance claims include reimbursement for medical expenses, anticipated future medical costs, lost earnings, diminished future earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. In many cases, additional damages also apply, such as compensation for diminished quality of life due to disability, disfigurement, loss of limb, or the loss of one of the senses.
If a poorly maintained truck causes an accident with fatal injuries, the closest surviving family members may recover additional compensation with the aid of a New Haven wrongful death lawyer.
A successful truck accident claim for compensation depends on determining the cause of the accident and proving liability. This requires an in-depth investigation of the accident including careful examination of the truck and its maintenance records. Common liable parties in maintenance-related truck accident claims include:
Proving liability requires showing that the liable party owed a duty of care to others on the road, they breached this duty of reasonable care, the breach of duty caused an accident with injuries, and the injury victim suffered damages from their injury.
Injury victims have the burden of proving liability in a Connecticut truck accident compensation claim.
Trucking companies and large truck repair companies have powerful insurance carriers that commonly dispute claims, point fingers at other parties, and attempt to shift liability to the injury victim. Fortunately, a skilled attorney can make a compelling case for the maximum compensation for their injured client or the family of a fatally injured truck accident victim in New Haven.
Call Weber & Rubano, LLC at (203) 888-8888 or contact us online for experienced representation in your claim so you can anticipate the optimal results.