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New Haven Truck Accident Attorney

A line of commercial trucks involved in an accident

Large commercial trucks are incredibly important for the economic stability of New Haven and Connecticut. However, these large vehicles can lead to severe injuries when they are involved in collisions with traditional passenger cars. At Jacobs & Jacobs, our team is here to provide a thorough case review when you need a New Haven truck accident attorney. We have the resources necessary to stand up to well-funded trucking companies and their aggressive insurance companies. Our law firm’s goal is to help you recover total compensation for any personal injuries and losses you or a loved one suffered.

New Haven Truck Accident Resources

To easily access any of the materials found on this personal injury page, click the appropriate link below.

Why Turn to Jacobs & Jacobs?
How Will an Attorney Help With a Truck Accident Case?
Why Are Truck Accident Injuries So Severe?
Who Will be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in New Haven?
Do Any Connecticut Laws Apply Specifically to Trucks?
What Types of Compensation Are Available in a Truck Accident Case?
Call a Truck Accident Attorney Today

Why Turn to Jacobs & Jacobs for Help With Your Truck Accident Injury?

Experiencing a motor vehicle accident can be harrowing and stressful. When you partner with our trustworthy accident attorneys, you can count on us to:

  • Get results where other law firms fail. We have obtained significant multi million dollar settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of clients, and have twice broken record for the largest jury verdict in Connecticut.
  • Approach each case with compassion and empathy.
  • Take New Haven truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that clients will not have to pay any legal fees until after we obtain the compensation they need.

What Will an Attorney do to Help a New Haven Truck Accident Case?

A truck accident lawyer in New Haven is going to be essential when working to help victims recover the compensation they need, particularly when standing up to the trucking companies and their insurance companies. An accident attorney is going to have the resources that the individual injury victim does not have, and they will be able to:

  • Conduct a thorough investigation into the truck accident in order to gather the evidence needed to prove viability. During our case evaluation, we enlist skilled accident reconstruction specialists and experienced analysts to help break down the situation.
  • Ensure that the accident victims are evaluated by a trusted medical professional who can care for their injuries and help properly calculate total expected losses.
  • Handle all negotiations with other parties involved, including the insurance company, in an attempt to negotiate a fair settlement.

Why are Truck Accident Injuries so Severe?

These particular motor vehicle accidents are often severe because of the sheer weight and size difference between commercial trucks and traditional passenger vehicles. According to data available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), we can see that commercial trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Whenever a vehicle of this size is involved in a collision with a smaller traditional passenger vehicle (that typically only weighs 4,000 pounds on average), the results can lead to catastrophic injuries.

It is not uncommon for crash victims in these situations to sustain the following types of injuries:

  • Broken and dislocated bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Open head wounds
  • Spinal cord injuries with paralysis
  • Crush injuries
  • Amputations
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Significant scarring and disfigurement

While injuries are often associated with trucking accidents, it’s also possible for substantial property damage to occur. Anything that is considered to be damaged as a result of a New Haven commercial truck accident can be viewed as property damage. The average property damage of a police-reported truck accident comes out to slightly over $91,000.

If we examine data available from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository, we can see information about crashes involving medium to heavy trucks across the state. During the latest reporting year, there were 5,450 total trucks that weigh above 10,000 pounds (gross vehicle weight) involved in collisions in the state. Unfortunately, the data does not break down exactly what type of trucks these were. However, some of the most common large trucks involved in auto accidents include the following:

  • Semi-trucks
  • Tractor-trailers
  • Package delivery trucks
  • Tanker trucks
  • Dump trucks
  • Cement trucks
  • Garbage trucks

Who Will be Held Liable for a New Haven Truck Accident?

There may be various parties that could be held liable in these situations, though overall, we find that the trucking company will be responsible for most incidents that occur. In many cases, a truck driver is responsible for collisions on the roadway. This can occur due to a wide variety of reasons, including a driver:

  • Operating the vehicle while distracted by their phone or another device
  • Operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs
  • Failing to follow FMCSA hours of service regulations
  • Failing to follow traffic laws (speeding, failing to yield, etc.)

When a truck driver is determined to be at fault for these incidents, the company or carrier that they work for could be held vicariously liable. In general, employers can be held responsible for the actions of their employees so long as the accident took place while the employee was conducting job-related duties.

In addition to driver error, there are various ways in which a company could actually be the cause of these accidents. This can include company:

  • Failing to ensure that drivers are properly trained or certified
  • Allowing or encouraging the overloading of trucks
  • Failing to regularly inspect and maintain each vehicle

Do Any Connecticut Laws Apply Specifically to Trucks?

While it’s important to always observe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, it’s also wise to review the specific laws of states you’re traveling in. To protect drivers on the road and reduce the risk of car accidents and serious injuries, the state of Connecticut has passed multiple laws governing the proper use of commercial trucks. Some of these regulations include:

  • Prohibitions on the Illegal Use of Limited Access Highways: On divided highways with more than two lanes going in each direction, commercial truck drivers are required to follow specific rules. This includes driving in the far right lane of traffic under most circumstances. There are exceptions to this rule that may be taken into consideration. If a police officer is directing traffic and the right lane is inaccessible, the truck may change laws to proceed safely. Additionally, if highway access is provided on the left side of the roadway, a vehicle with a trailer, commercial vehicle, or bus may stay in the merge lane for a reasonable length of time. Likewise, a truck may use the left lane to exit a highway.
  • Truck Lane Restrictions: To provide for the safety and wellbeing of the public, the government of Connecticut has the authority to control truck traffic and access across the state. The Office of the State Traffic Administration (OSTA) may work with local authorities to prohibit truck traffic on highways or streets, if doing so is reasonably necessary to protect the public. Areas that are prohibited are typically denoted with black and white signage featuring the words “No Thru Trucks.” Before forbidding truck access, the OSTA must find an acceptable alternative route and secure the agreement of all impacted towns or cities.
  • Connecticut Truck Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax: Beginning in 2023, all vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds will be required to pay a vehicle miles traveled tax for every mile driven in Connecticut. The amount of the fee is determined by a truck’s gross weight.

What Types of Compensation are Available for a New Haven Truck Accident Case?

There may be various types of compensation available to victims of commercial truck accidents in New Haven. At Jacobs & Jacobs, our goal is to help clients recover complete compensation for their losses, catastrophic injuries, or wrongful death that occurred in these situations. This can include obtaining various types of economic and non-economic compensation, such as the following:

  • Coverage of all medical expenses related to the truck crash
  • Compensation for any prescription medications or medical devices
  • Coverage of physical therapy or rehabilitation expenses
  • Lost wages if a victim cannot work while they recover
  • General household out-of-pocket expenses
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages

The total amount of compensation available in these situations will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each particular truck accident in New Haven.

Call a New Haven Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries caused by distracted driving or a negligent trucking company, reach out to the team at Jacobs & Jacobs for help today. Our New Haven car accident lawyers pledge to fully investigate your case and use our resources to have your back throughout this entire process. We will stand up to every party involved so we can ensure that you recover the compensation you are entitled to. When you need a New Haven truck accident attorney, you can contact us for a free case evaluation and consultation by clicking here or call today at (203) 777-2300.

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