Virginia Beach Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucks are a constant presence throughout Virginia Beach, from Interstate 264 and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the freight routes serving the Port of Virginia. While these vehicles keep goods moving throughout the region, collisions involving tractor-trailers often leave occupants of passenger vehicles with life-changing injuries and overwhelming financial burdens.
If you or someone you love has been hurt because of a negligent truck driver or trucking company, a Virginia Beach truck accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve while protecting your rights throughout the legal process. At The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C., we have decades of experience investigating serious truck accidents, holding negligent parties accountable, and advocating for injured Virginians when they need it most.
WHERE TRUCK ACCIDENTS HAPPEN IN AND AROUND VIRGINIA BEACH
A Virginia Beach truck accident lawyer knows that where a crash occurs often provides important clues about how it happened and who may be responsible. Virginia Beach and the surrounding Hampton Roads region serve as major freight corridors, with commercial trucks traveling daily between the Port of Virginia, the Eastern Shore, and interstate highways.
Some of the area’s most common truck accident locations include:
Interstate 264 and the Port of Virginia freight corridor, where heavy commercial traffic, merging vehicles, and congestion increase the risk of collisions;
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (US-13/CBBT), where long bridge spans, underwater tunnels, crosswinds, and limited shoulders can make crashes involving large trucks especially dangerous;
US Route 13 (Lankford Highway) on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a heavily traveled commercial route where high speeds and rural intersections contribute to serious accidents; and
Interstate 64 near the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, where frequent congestion and lane changes create challenging conditions for motorists traveling alongside tractor-trailers.
Because truck accident investigations often involve Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, evidence such as driver logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, maintenance records, and cargo documentation should be preserved as quickly as possible. Acting promptly can help ensure important evidence remains available while your claim is investigated.
STEPS TO TAKE FOLLOWING A TRUCK ACCIDENT
Knowing what to do after a semi-truck wreck helps your truck accident attorney in Virginia Beach build a solid case on your behalf. It is common to be shocked and disoriented in the minutes following such a traumatic event. Taking as many of the following steps as possible helps preserve evidence for your lawyer.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
Even if you believe you suffered no major injuries, seek medical attention immediately. Some injuries appear in the days, weeks, or even months after an accident. Connecting those injuries to your accident is a vital part of your compensation claim, and a complete medical evaluation helps you make that connection.
CALL 911
After an accident, you or someone else must call 911 to request that a police officer come to the scene. Law enforcement officers assess the physical condition of all parties involved and may also be able to determine if any parties were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The responding officer will also create an accident report. This report will provide our skilled attorneys with important information about your accident.
EXCHANGE INFORMATION
Obtain the names, contact information, and insurance information for all drivers involved in your accident. It’s also a good idea to jot down the license plate numbers of each vehicle. If the other driver was on the job when the accident happened, write down the name of their employer too.
OBTAIN WITNESS INFORMATION
Get the names and contact information of any witnesses to your accident. Their testimony can be helpful if you file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. The police report might contain witness contact information, but sometimes witnesses leave before the police arrive.
GATHER EVIDENCE
Take photographs of all the vehicles involved in the accident and your injuries. If you can, take photos of the accident scene, including broken glass, traffic signs and signals, and any other damaged property. Also, write down your recollection of the events leading up to the accident and the immediate aftermath. Memories fade quickly, even after a catastrophic event like a truck accident. Writing down what you recall while the memories are fresh can help you remember important details later on.
ONLY SPEAK TO INSURANCE COMPANIES AFTER CONTACTING OUR ATTORNEY
A tenacious attorney anticipates the tactics and strategies that insurance companies may use to pressure you into accepting an early settlement offer. These early offers rarely compensate you for all of your damages and may leave you with much less compensation than you need and deserve. A lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to help you maximize your compensation.
Performing any of the steps mentioned above will help your attorney and give you the best chance at getting the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
LOCAL RESOURCES AFTER A TRUCK ACCIDENT
After a serious truck accident, obtaining medical care and preserving important records should be among your highest priorities.
The following local resources may be helpful as your claim moves forward:
Virginia Beach Police Department Crash Reports and Open Data Portal. If the Virginia Beach Police Department responded to your collision, you may be able to obtain crash information through the department or the city’s Open Data Portal.
Virginia DMV Crash Report Requests. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles provides copies of official Virginia crash reports that may be useful when filing an insurance claim or pursuing legal action.
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. As the region’s only Level III Trauma Center, this facility serves patients throughout Virginia Beach, Virginia’s Eastern Shore, and northeastern North Carolina.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Patients with life-threatening injuries may be transferred to this nationally recognized Level I Trauma Center for advanced emergency and surgical care.
Virginia State Police Hampton Roads Division. The Virginia State Police frequently investigates serious commercial vehicle collisions, particularly those occurring on interstate highways or involving fatalities.
Virginia Beach Circuit Court. If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, personal injury lawsuits arising from truck accidents may ultimately be filed in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court.
An experienced Virginia Beach truck accident attorney can help obtain these records, preserve critical evidence, communicate with insurers, and ensure all filing deadlines are met.
COMMON CAUSES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Truck accidents may occur due to a range of factors, most of which are usually preventable. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:
- Failure to maintain the truck in safe operating condition;
- Distracted driving;
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating;
- Speeding;
- Fatigued driving;
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Improper cargo loading, including overloading a vehicle or failing to secure a load; and
- Lack of proper training or driver education.
Virginia Beach truck accident attorneys can investigate your accident to determine what caused it and identify all of the parties that might be responsible for your damages.
WHY CHOOSE US?
When you’re injured, choose the firm with over 47 years of experience! We are confident our firm is the right choice for you because serious injuries are our business.
Our Virginia Beach attorneys have years of experience handing truck wrecks. Particularly, we have:
- Extensive trial experience and proven records of success
- Millions recovered from injured people see our case results
- A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau
- Our attorneys are AV®Preeminnent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS
Unlike standard accidents, truck accidents involve a whole different industry of trucking insurance companies and their related laws and regulations. These unique legal systems can be complex to say the least, and a trustworthy truck accident attorney will fight for your rights and help you understand those complexities.
When large trucks lose control, the responsible parties should be held accountable for your pain and suffering. Your Virginia Beach truck accident attorney from The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C., won’t stop until we’ve done everything possible to reach a satisfactory conclusion to your legal case.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWSUIT IN VIRGINIA?
In most cases, Virginia allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting too long could result in losing your right to pursue compensation, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
WHO CAN BE HELD LIABLE AFTER A TRUCK ACCIDENT IN VIRGINIA BEACH?
Liability may extend beyond the truck driver. Depending on the circumstances, responsible parties could include the trucking company, a cargo loading company, a maintenance contractor, the owner of the truck, or even a manufacturer of defective vehicle components. A Virginia Beach semi-truck accident lawyer can investigate every potential source of liability.
WHAT MAKES TRUCK ACCIDENTS ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL SO DANGEROUS?
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel combines long bridge spans, underwater tunnels, changing weather conditions, strong crosswinds, limited shoulders, and heavy commercial traffic. These unique conditions can make crashes involving large trucks more severe and more difficult for emergency responders to manage.
HOW DOES VIRGINIA’S CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE LAW AFFECT MY TRUCK ACCIDENT CLAIM?
Virginia follows the doctrine of pure contributory negligence. If an injured person is found even 1% at fault for causing the accident, they may be barred from recovering damages. Because insurance companies often attempt to shift blame, it is important to have an attorney protect your interests throughout the claims process.
HOW MUCH IS A VIRGINIA BEACH TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
Every case is different. The value of a claim depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, future treatment needs, pain and suffering, and the available insurance coverage. A Virginia Beach tractor-trailer accident lawyer can evaluate your damages and pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
CALL A VIRGINIA BEACH TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER FOR HELP WITH A CASE TODAY
Our method is one that emphasizes full investigations of an accident quickly and thoroughly. Our Virginia Beach truck accident lawyers will go through the responsible driver’s history as well as the truck company’s protocols to verify that all parties were following required safety guidelines and laws, both local and federal. We’re thoroughly dedicated to each and every one of our clients.
If you or someone you know has been injured or has experienced significant loss caused by a truck accident crash, call a lawyer at The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C., immediately. We promise to do everything in our power to get you the compensation you deserve.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal resources during the content development process:
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