New BritainTruck Accident Attorney

New Britain Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents can cause tremendous physical and financial damages. If you were injured in a truck accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, a New Britain truck accident lawyer may be able to help you recover monetary compensation for your losses. A Connecticut personal injury lawyer at Tehrani Law Group can investigate your accident and review your options for making a legal claim for compensation so you can focus on your recovery.

Truck Accident Statistics

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 25 trucks were involved in fatal accidents in Connecticut in 2021, claiming 26 lives. This number of accidents and fatalities is expected to grow as the number of tractor-trailers increases. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) reports that there are already nearly 1,473,680 trucks registered in the state.

It also reports that almost 94% of freight is moved by truck throughout the mid-Atlantic and New England regions and 44% is moved to destinations around the rest of the country. Approximately 99% of that freight is transported over the 346 miles of Connecticut interstate. Tractor trailers account for 10% of vehicle miles traveled, despite only making up 5% of registered vehicles, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The CTDOT also states that of the top 15 areas in the northeast region with the most tractor-trailer bottlenecks, six of them are in Connecticut. This massive volume of big rig traffic increases the likelihood of accidents. Nearly half of the trucking accidents occurring in 2022 resulted in injuries or fatalities.

Connecticut Trucking Regulations

Driving a tractor-trailer can be dangerous. This is largely because of the size and weight of trucks and the fact they typically carry large and heavy loads. Because of the dangers of trucks, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has imposed several regulations for truck drivers, including:

• Hours of service limitations
• Drug testing
• Mandatory physical exams
• Cell phone use

Even with these restrictions in place, truck accidents can still happen. When they do, serious injuries often result. If you have been injured in a truck accident, our New Britain 18-wheeler accident attorneys can help you file a claim for damages.

Types of Truck Accidents in New Britain

Because of how large and heavy big rigs are, one incorrect maneuver can lead to a devastating accident. There are several types of collisions in which trucks are often involved. Common types of truck accidents include:

• Rear-end accidents
• Jackknife accidents
• Underride accidents
• Runaway trailers
• Cargo accidents
• Blindspot accidents
• Rollover accidents

Any type of truck accident can cause serious injuries or fatalities. They can also lead to massive financial hardships. If your tractor-trailer accident was caused by someone’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries and other losses with the help of a semi-truck accident lawyer in New Britain.

Truck accidents can be caused by several factors. Many tractor-trailer collisions are caused by their drivers taking improper actions. Common contributing factors of truck accidents include:

• Speeding
• Changing lanes carelessly
• Tailgating
• Failing to yield or stop
• Improperly turning or backing
• Failing to use turn signals
• Improper lane usage
• Disregarding traffic signals
• Failing to secure a load
• Driving under the influence
• Driving while tired
• Driving while distracted
• Driving without adequate training
• Inexperienced driving
• Operating an inadequately maintained truck
• Operating a truck with a mechanical failure

If your accident was caused by the negligence of the truck driver or another party, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries. A New Britain tractor-trailer accident attorney can investigate your accident, review important evidence, and determine who was liable for your collision. Then, we can file a personal injury claim against the responsible party.

Truck accidents are often more serious than regular motor vehicle accidents. As a result, they can lead to more severe injuries, including fatalities. Injuries sustained in trucking accidents frequently include:

• Whiplash
• Concussions
• Contusions and lacerations
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Neck and back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord damage
• Internal organ damage
• Disfigurement
• Paralysis
• Amputation
• Death

Because of the severity of many of the injuries caused in truck accidents, you will likely be faced with surmounting medical expenses and extensive future medical treatment. In addition, you may be unable to live or work as you did before your accident. If you are facing physical and financial losses, a big rig accident lawyer in New Britain can work to get you compensation.

What Makes Truck Accidents More Severe

As mentioned, the injuries suffered in trucking accidents are often more severe than those obtained in other motor vehicle accidents. There are several factors that make truck accidents more dangerous. The most common of these factors include:

• Their size and weight: The IIHS reports that trucks can weigh 30 times more than cars, meaning that injuries sustained in tractor-trailer collisions will likely be more severe. They also have larger blind spots that create visibility problems for drivers.

• Their maneuverability: It is difficult for large trucks to maneuver in heavy traffic because of their size. Because their mobility is limited, they are likely to be involved in more accidents, especially in congested traffic areas like the common bottleneck areas identified by the CTDOT.

• Their stopping distance: It takes semi-trucks 40% longer to come to a complete stop than average passenger vehicles. This increases the chances of a truck causing a rear-end accident that leads to severe injuries.

• The demands on their drivers: Big rig drivers can be under pressure to complete numerous trips in short periods of time because they are often paid per load. Long driving distances and hours can cause exhaustion for drivers, leading to serious accidents.

• Their cargo loads: The bulky loads frequently carried by 18-wheelers can make them top-heavy. This load distribution increases the chances of them rolling over and leading to devastating accidents, potentially involving hazardous chemical spills or explosions.

• Their maintenance: Trucks are required to undergo regular safety checks and maintenance to ensure their parts are working properly. If inspections are skipped or regulatory compliance is not met, a truck malfunction can lead to a serious accident with devastating injuries.

Serious truck collisions can lead to substantial medical and financial damages for the victims involved. A New Britain trucking accident lawyer can review your claim and determine what caused the accident and whether negligence was involved. Then we can determine who may be liable for the collision and your resulting injuries.

Fault in Connecticut Personal Injury Cases

Connecticut is a fault state. This means the victim of a trucking accident is entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault party. As such, an important step in your personal injury claim is determining liability for your truck accident.

Liability in New Britain Truck Accidents

Determining liability for your semi-truck accident is key to filing a legal claim for compensation for your injuries. Depending on what caused your accident, there could be multiple parties responsible for the collision. Parties that can be held at fault for Connecticut truck accidents include:

• The truck driver
• The truck owner
• The trucking company
• The truck manufacturer
• A cargo company
• A repair shop
• Another driver
• A pedestrian
• A safety inspector
• A municipality

As discussed, the party responsible for your truck accident is required to compensate you for your injuries. As such, consulting with a truck accident attorney in New Britain as soon as possible after your wreck is wise because we can determine all the parties that may be responsible for your losses. Once liability is determined, we can file a lawsuit against those parties to attempt to maximize the compensation you receive.

Comparative Negligence in Truck Accidents in New Britain

In some instances, you may have held some responsibility for your accident. This is known as comparative negligence. Connecticut adheres to a modified comparative negligence system.

Under the state’s modified comparative negligence system, you can still collect compensation from a responsible party even if you were partly to blame for your accident. Specifically, you can recover damages from the other at-fault parties as long as you were not more than 51% responsible for the collision. The damages you recover will be decreased by the proportion of your negligence.

Proving Negligence in a New Britain Truck Accident

To prevail in your personal injury claim, you must prove the party responsible for your accident acted negligently. There are four elements your New Britain tractor-trailer accident lawyer must demonstrate to establish negligence. These elements of negligence are as follows:

• Duty of care: The liable party had an obligation to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances.

• Breach of duty: That party breached their duty of care.

• Causation: There must be a connection between their breach of duty and your injuries.

• Damages: Their actions actually caused you injuries or other harm.

You must convince a factfinder that your assertions are, more probably than not, true. This is considered a preponderance of the evidence. Successfully demonstrating these elements of negligence will increase your chances of recovering damages in your lawsuit. 

Evidence to Support Your New Britain Truck Accident Claim

To support your claim of negligence in Connecticut, you need evidence. You should begin collecting evidence as soon as your accident happens. Here is evidence that can help your claim for damages:

• The police report
• Photos of the accident scene
• In-cab video footage
• Black box data
• Driving logbooks
• Maintenance records
• Trucker’s personnel file
• Cell phone records
• Alcohol and drug test results
• Documentation of your injuries and property damage
• Medical records and bills
• Witness statements
• Pay stubs and tax returns
• Expert affidavits

This list of evidence may seem overwhelming. However, our 18-wheeler accident lawyers can help you collect the material needed to prevail in your personal injury case. Evidence is a critical part of a successful trucking accident claim.

Connecticut Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Claims

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including semi-truck accidents, in Connecticut is generally two years. This means you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. You will be barred from filing a legal claim if you miss this deadline.

You should consult with a New Britain big rig accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident because, in some instances, you may need to provide notice to the party you are suing before you file your lawsuit. For instance, if you are suing a municipality, you need to provide them with written notice of your claim within 90 or 180 days, depending on certain details of your collision. Our team at Tehrani Law Group can help you meet important deadlines in your accident claim.

Damages You Can Collect After a Truck Accident in New Britain

If you successfully prove the liable party acted negligently and caused your injuries, you are entitled to collect compensation for your losses. An experienced trucking accident attorney in New Britain will review your medical expenses and other damages to calculate your losses. As such, it is important to retain all medical bills, receipts, and other documents you obtain that show your losses.

Your losses include economic and non-economic damages. Economic, or monetary damages, often include your medical costs, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Non-monetary damages are your non-tangible losses and can include your pain and suffering and mental trauma.

In instances wherein the liable party acted deliberately or with reckless disregard, you may be awarded punitive damages. These damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer for their actions. In Connecticut, punitive damages are usually double or triple the victim’s actual damages.

Why You Should Retain a New Britain Truck Accident Attorney

Retaining a semi-truck accident attorney in New Britain can be extremely beneficial to you because we will work tirelessly on your case from inception to resolution in an attempt to get you maximum compensation for your injuries. Tehrani Law Group can focus on helping you recover damages for your injuries so you can focus on recovering. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can fight for justice on your behalf after your New Britain truck accident.