When a truck accident occurs in Virginia, those who were affected by it will have a great deal to consider. If there are serious injuries involved there will likely be considerable medical costs from a hospital stay, and potentially more with rehabilitation and perhaps long-term care. With a fatality, the family who lost a loved one will have to live their lives without a parent, a spouse, a sibling or a child. Trucks are a major presence on the nation’s landscape and provide goods, services and jobs. That, however, doesn’t alter the fact that their massive size makes a crash involving a commercial vehicle a major risk for injuries and death.
Many people are unaware that federal trucking regulations are in place to protect both the trucker and the people on the road from the dangers inherent with a large truck. For example, a truck driver is required to keep a trucking log to record the amount of time spent on the road to make sure that the driving-time rules weren’t violated, thereby creating an unsafe situation. A common reason for a truck accident is that the driver was tired from being on the road for too many hours in a day, leading to falling asleep at the wheel.
People who have had a loved one injured or killed in a truck accident must be aware of their options in the aftermath. Insurance companies and trucking companies are oftentimes focused on protecting their own interests and saving as much money as possible by offering a preemptive settlement after an accident. Families who have been harmed might be in such shock after the accident that they accept the offer before realizing how much the accident will actually cost them, both personally and financially.
Given the long-term issues that can arise after a truck accident, one of the most important decisions that a family can make is to speak to a qualified legal professional with experience in cases involving trucks. Dealing with the hospital, speaking to the insurance company and considering the potential problems from an accident can be difficult to handle. Knowing how to file litigation to be compensated is an important step to take.