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Running through Northern Virginia is Interstate 81, a significant avenue for commerce. With the heavy flow of commercial trucks, this stretch of roadway also sees excessive track accidents yearly. Collisions with commercial trucks, known variably as big rigs, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, or 18-wheelers, can result in catastrophic injuries due to their immense size and weight.
If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident, call the Northern Virginia truck accident lawyers of Regan Zambri Long. Many victims think they can’t afford a truck accident lawyer, but you can’t afford to be without one.
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In 2022, the Virginia Highway Safety Office reported nearly 3,000 large truck accidents across the Commonwealth of Virginia. With the increase in traffic from commuters, visitors, and commercial vehicles, it’s not surprising that Northern Virginia experiences some of the highest traffic accidents in the state.
If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident in Northern Virginia, Regan Zambri Long can guide you through the legal process to help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Our Northern Virginia truck accident attorneys have helped families recover damages following a truck accident for:
Truck accident claims are complex, but if a crash occurred because of a truck driver’s negligence, you deserve to hold them and the truck company accountable. Further, we work on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay for legal representation upfront and are only sent a bill if we win on your behalf.
Contact the Northern Virginia personal injury attorneys of Regan Zambri Long for a no-obligation, free consultation. We represent Northern Virginia victims and their family members in personal injury claims and can do the same for you.
Several factors could cause a truck accident to occur. Some of the most common causes include:
Some of the most common truck wrecks include:
These accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, so truck accident victims need Regan Zambri Long.
Potential parties may be liable for your Northern Virginia truck accident claim. In some cases, more than one party may be at fault for the collision. A Virginia truck accident attorney from Regan Zambri Long can help you determine who is responsible so you can seek financial compensation.
Sometimes, a faulty part of a commercial vehicle can cause a truck accident. Faulty brakes, steering, or even defective tires can all cause a commercial truck accident without any intentional wrongdoing in the hands of the driver.
People are imperfect, but we expect drivers to practice safe driving and be cautious of other road users. Unfortunately, when truck drivers get behind the wheel intoxicated, tired, or behave recklessly, accidents can occur that can cost Northern Virginia families gravely.
Trucking companies must provide their drivers with proper training and safe driving hours. However, an accident may occur if a company does not train its drivers or puts unrealistic delivery requirements on them.
Proper vehicle maintenance is critical for any driver, but given the size and weight of semi trucks, taking care of these big rigs becomes even more essential. If a mechanic or the contractor in charge of the upkeep of these large trucks is not doing their best to keep these vehicles operating safely, they can be held liable for a resulting trucking accident.
Despite their size, commercial trucks are delicate vehicles in that they must be adequately loaded to ensure driver safety. Vehicles that are not packed properly can result in vehicle rollover accidents that can be catastrophic.
If a cargo loader or the goods shipper does not ensure safe handling of the goods, they can be held responsible for a wreck.
Our roads are only as safe as they are maintained. If the government entity in charge of maintenance of the roadways is not keeping them clean and secure, they can be held liable for a wreck. However, this can be difficult to prove without the help of an experienced Northern Virginia truck accident lawyer.
Injuries from a truck accident can be minor to severe and, in some cases, even fatal. The most commonly reported injuries in Northern Virginia truck accidents include:
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck crash, you have a right to compensation and to hold the negligent truck driver or other parties accountable.
While there are federal trucking laws by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Virginia also has its own set of rules governing the commercial trucking industry within the state. Under Virginia law, trucking regulations protect drivers and other vulnerable road users.
Drivers involved in intrastate commerce or driving within the state borders cannot drive more than 12 hours. They must spend ten consecutive hours off-duty or drive after being on duty 16 hours following ten consecutive hours off duty. Further, drivers cannot drive if they have been on duty 70 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 80 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period if the employer operates commercial vehicles every day of the week.
Federal regulations exist for truck drivers involved in interstate commerce or driving outside state borders. These limitations do not permit drivers to be behind the wheel for more than 11 hours during a 14-hour period that follows an off-duty period of 10 consecutive hours. Further, they must rest for at least 30 minutes before getting behind the wheel after driving a maximum of eight hours. Drivers can spend up to 60 hours on duty in seven days or 70 hours in an eight-day consecutive period.
Driving more than the state or federal limits allow puts truckers at risk for driver fatigue, potentially harming other road users.
The trucking industry has strict alcohol and drug testing requirements at both state and federal levels. Drivers in Virginia must undergo pre-employment drug testing and drug testing after an accident and may be subjected to randomized drug and alcohol testing throughout the year.
Further, drivers are subjected to stricter blood alcohol content (BAC) limits. Drivers cannot have a BAC of .04 percent or greater; if they do, they may lose their commercial driver’s license.
All motor vehicles in Virginia are required to have at least minimum insurance coverage, including large trucks. Under the law, the following minimum insurance requirements are in place for vehicles engaged in intrastate commerce:
The federal minimum insurance rates are in effect for motor carriers operating in interstate commerce.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is in charge of the limitations of the weight and length of commercial trucks operating in the state. This includes the following length limitations:
Further, no vehicle can travel on Virginia highways with a single axle weight larger than 20,000 pounds, a tandem axle weight greater than 34,000 pounds, or a gross weight over 80,000 pounds. These limitations work to preserve the integrity of Virginia’s roadways.
With a population of more than two million residents, Northern Virginia is made up of the following counties:
It also includes the following cities:
Given its proximity to the United States Capital, Northern Virginia, it is not surprising to see a fair share of tractor-trailer accidents.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a truck crash in Northern Virginia, call the skilled and experienced truck accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long today.
