Trucking & Tractor Trailer Accidents

Virginia’s web of highly traveled interstate highways and congested urban roadways see more than 2,000 trucking accidents annually, according to Virginia crash statistics. If you were in a passenger car involved in an accident due to the negligence of a truck driver, we know you are likely dealing with serious injuries. We are here to help, with over 30 years of experience holding trucking companies to task for faulty equipment or the unsafe practices of their drivers.

Rarely is a truck driver injured in a collision with a passenger vehicle. Below are some leading reasons why truck accidents occur:

• Truck driver is exhausted or working beyond standard hours
• Mechanical failure, such as bad brakes or turn signal failure
• Truck Driver is not carefully monitoring truck’s numerous blind spots
• Truck Driver fails to leave adequate space between vehicles
• Drivers not paying attention to the road
• Truckload is not properly secured, and loose cargo causes accident
• Aggressive or reckless drivers
• One of drivers involved under the influence of drugs or alcohol

While less common than human error, truck accidents caused by defective engine or steering components injure many every year. Even when no physical injuries occur as a result of a truck accident, truck accidents often cause toxic and hazardous chemical spills that endanger both the environment and innocent passersby.

What to do if you are in a truck accident

If you ever have the misfortune of being in a truck accident on the busy and overcrowded highways of Virginia, and you or a family member are injured, the Nichols Zauzig  truck accident attorneys will be there to investigate the circumstances of the truck accident, your resulting injuries and the cost you incurred as a result of those injuries. As one can imagine, involvement in a truck accident can be a very traumatic event, and the aftermath can be chaotic and confusing, especially if there have been serious injuries.

If you are in a truck accident, be certain not only to contact your insurance company, but also a law firm that specializes in truck accidents, like Nichols Zauzig.

Information to obtain

The information you should obtain at a truck accident is no different than what you should obtain in any accident involving motor vehicles, including:

• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of those involved
• Insurance company information from the other driver(s)
• Contact information for any witnesses
• Names of police officers if any are present at the scene
• Location of the accident
• Any apparent injuries
• Any visible damage to the vehicles involved

Next steps

Within a few days of the truck accident, you should make sure that you complete the following steps as necessary:

• Inform your insurance company of the accident
• File a police report if there have been any injuries or extensive vehicle damage
• Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if a report needs to be filed there
• Contact Nichols-Zauzig Litigation Group for legal counsel about your truck accident injury.

Reach out to us as soon as possible

While we list the necessity of contacting our office last on the above list, we urge you to contact Nichols Zauzig  as early in the process as possible. If the injuries you or a loved one have suffered are severe, then you’ll need a professional firm that is ready to take focused and effective action in initiating your legal case, so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery and care. The sooner we are involved, the better your interests will be served. Reach out to us at 703-492-4200 or use our online email form. We’ll be in touch very soon to find out more about your situation and, if viable, set up a free consultation.