Truck accidents can be devastating for victims and their families. A truck accident in a nearby Virginia community north of the Roanoke area recently left one victim dead. According to authorities, the truck accident occurred when a tractor trailer attempted to make an improper turn from the right-hand lane to the crossover, possibly causing the passenger vehicle driven by the 56-year old victim to rear end the tractor trailer.
Both the Virginia State Police Accident Reconstruction Team and the Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Unit were called to investigate the fatal truck accident. The 69-year old driver of the tractor trailer was charged by police with making an improper turn. Oftentimes, criminal citations or traffic charges can be used as evidence of negligence if a claim for damages is made either by the victim of an accident or the victim’s family.
Truck accident victims and families of victims killed in a fatal truck accident can suffer a variety of damages, including physical, financial and emotional damages. Truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and death due to the obvious size and weight disparity between trucks and the vehicles they share the roadways with. When a truck driver, or trucking company, has failed to exercise the reasonable care necessary to protect others they share the roadways with, they may be responsible for compensating their victims.
Victims of truck accidents and their families should be protected following a tragic truck accident, which is why the legal process provides resources and assistance for families harmed by a negligent truck driver or trucking company. While the legal process may not be able to bring back a lost loved one, it can help with many of the other challenges faced by victims of truck accidents.
Source: WSLS10.com, “Police identify Bedford County crash victim,” Patricia Martellotti, Feb. 2, 2017