Reston Truck Accident Lawyer

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

Compensation for a Reston Truck Accident

Getting into any kind of accident is usually scary but because of the size and amount of damage large trucks can do, if you have been in an accident that calls for the help of a Reston, VA truck accident lawyer, you probably need compensation for expenses related to your accident.

When someone is injured because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, they may be entitled to compensation from the party or parties that injured them. In the tragic and unjust event that someone dies because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, their surviving family members may be able to seek compensation from the party or parties that caused this terrible thing to happen. If one of these things has happened to you or to somebody you love in Reston, it may be time to enlist the help of a reliable truck accident lawyer that is licensed to practice throughout VA, to find out what your and your loved ones’ rights are.

Dangers of Truck Accidents

Because of their size and the damage they can do, accidents with large trucks such as commercial 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, tend to be very, very scary.

Accidents with these kinds of trucks often cause fatalities that warrant the need for surviving family members to file a personal injury, wrongful death claim against the party or parties that caused the accident in order to protect their family’s financial future. When the kind damage they do does not cause people to die, they can still cause a horrific amount of damage to the bodies of people involved in the accident as well as to the property that was in harm’s way of the accident. The victims of these accidents and their family, have already suffered, they should not have to suffer financially because of this too. It is recommended that victims of Reston truck accidents seek the help of a reputable VA truck accident lawyer.

Some of the reasons accidents with large trucks can cause so much damage include but are not limited to:

– On average, a semi weighs 80,000 pounds compared to the average car that weighs a fraction of this at 5,000 pounds. Trucks called turnpike-doubles, can weigh up to 147,000 pounds.

– When a semi is connected to a trailer, it is usually 53 feet long but this can vary.

-Turnpike-doubles, consist of two 48-foot trailers connected to a semi. The average length of a car is only 15 feet long with many cars being significantly smaller than this.

– The average turning width for a semi is 55 feet, which is nearly 5 times larger than the width of an average road or highway lane in the U.S.

– It takes large trucks much longer to slow down, speed up and to execute maneuvers such as, changing lanes and making turns.

– While it is illegal for truckers to drive more than a certain amount of hours, many truckers drive while fatigued and/or under the influence

If you or someone you care about has suffered because of a truck accident in Reston, VA, it may be in your best interest to discuss your situation with a highly rated truck accident lawyer.

For a highly rated Reston, VA truck accident lawyer contact Cohen & Cohen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a free case evaluation.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident in Reston, there is a good chance you need the help of a reliable Reston, VA trucking accident lawyer that is licensed and ready to defend your rights. If you and your family are grieving over the tragic and unexpected loss of a loved one, a lawyer who is experienced with successfully defending the rights of surviving family members’ of trucking accident victims, may be able to help you in this very difficult time.

Large commercial trucks are an integral and necessary part of the American economy but an unfortunate reality is that they get into accidents with private automobiles and when they do, they almost always cause significant damage to the smaller vehicles. Passengers and innocent bystanders are often injured, often critically, or even get killed because of injuries they suffered from the accident. If you have been injured or are taking care of someone who is, or if you are reeling over the shock of losing a loved one, it may be in your best interest to discuss your situation with a reputable Reston, VA trucking accident lawyer as soon as you can.

When someone is injured because of another party’s negligence or recklessness, the injured victim may be able to seek compensation from the party that caused their injury. In the horrific event that someone dies because of another party’s negligent or reckless behavior, their surviving family members may be entitled to compensation.

Trucking accident lawyers Reston, VA residents trust know that accidents happen all the time between drivers on the road. One of the more serious and potentially fatal car crashes are those that involve commercial trucks. To be considered a commercial truck, a vehicle must have a starting weight of 10,000 pounds, and may reach an upwards of 80,000 pounds fully stocked. If you factor in the fact that some truck drivers become fatigued behind the wheel, you can only imagine the type of disaster that can occur.

How do truck drivers get distracted?

People getting distracted behind the wheel happens so often, and truck drivers are no exception. Trucking accident lawyers in Reston, VA will likely inform you that long drives down straight roads can get boring very quickly, so a driver may be tempted to check their cell phone to send a quick text or phone call. Also, in order to get ahead of schedule, a truck driver may grab food to go and eat while driving. Reaching over to grab chips, a napkin or other item may seem like a small gesture, but taking our eyes away from the road for even a few seconds can cause a tragic accident to arise. It would be better for a truck driver to take a break and enjoy a meal sitting in a restaurant so they can not only be safer, but also get some rest time in too.

What is truck driver fatigue?

Skilled trucking accident lawyers from Reston, VA can inform you that when truck drivers feel they must get to a certain destination on-time, they may be tempted to drive for excessive durations without any breaks. They may also drive during standard sleeping hours, from around 10pm to 6am, in order to avoid traffic. The downside to this is that a person’s body system can get confused as to when it is supposed to be in sleep and wake mode. If a truck driver does not get the rest he or she needs, the body may also respond by entering periods of microsleep.

What is microsleep and why is it so serious?

Trucking accident lawyers in Reston, VA will tell you that microsleep can happen when the body is so exhausted that it is desperate to get rest, even for fractions of a second. Microsleep can last up to about half a minute, which is plenty long enough for a truck driver to swerve into another lane, plow through a red light, or cause an accident to happen in some other way. Signs that a truck driver near you may be neglecting his or her sleep can include:

1. Head keeps falling forward, then jerking suddenly up again as if nodding off
2. Their eyes appear to be droopy or are having difficulty keeping them open
3. The driver appears disheveled, dazed or is yawning frequently
4. The truck is swerving into the next lane, then abruptly being pulled back

What should I do if I am hit by a truck driver?

All car accidents should be taken seriously, especially those that involve a commercial truck. You should immediately get medical attention while at the scene so your injuries can receive prompt care. Then, you may want to meet with trucking accident lawyers Reston, VA residents count on to get more information about seeking financial retribution and justice.

If you or someone you know has been hit by a truck driver, do not hesitate to reach out to Cohen & Cohen for more information.

Legal options for injured victims of trucking accidents where the driver was driving under the influence (DUI):

If you were injured by a driver who was subsequently charged with driving under the influence (DUI), you might be in need of expensive medical treatment. Assuming the accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault driver. However, because of all the variables involved, including the circumstances of a criminal charge, talk to the trucking accident lawyers from Cohen & Cohen who know how to protect the rights of DUI accident victims. We have represented many victims of accidents caused by drivers who were under the influence.

Criminal Charges

A DUI is a criminal charge. Upon conviction of a DUI, the driver may be subject to a jail or prison sentence. Whether or not they will be incarcerated and for how long will depend on several factors, including their criminal history. However, even if they are convicted of a DUI and must serve time, this does not exonerate them from their financial responsibility to you, the victim. DUI trucking accident lawyers from our firm who are licensed to practice in Reston and throughout VA can review the circumstances of your case, and the criminal charges against the at-fault driver to provide you with specific information as it applies to you.

Personal Injury Claim

Whether or not the other driver is charged with a DUI, and whether or not they are convicted of that charge, you can seek compensation from them with the help of a DUI lawyer from Cohen & Cohn, P.C. If that driver has auto insurance, we can help you submit a personal injury claim to their carrier. For the best chance of a successful outcome, it’s important to include documentation and other proof to establish the validity of your claim. If necessary, we can also enlist the help of medical experts who can provide testimony and documentation regarding your injury. If the DUI truck driver did not have insurance at the time of a trucking accident, our lawyers can pursue a civil lawsuit against them if warranted, in Reston or the place in VA where the accident occured.

Civil Lawsuit

Courtroom litigation is not usually the first choice for a DUI lawyer when it comes to seeking compensation on their client’s behalf. This is because it generally costs more and takes longer to conclude than a personal injury lawsuit. It also does not come with a guaranteed successful conclusion which means the victim may not get any compensation at all. However, sometimes a civil lawsuit is the only alternative. This is particularly true when a DUI driver did not have auto insurance or else did not have enough insurance to pay the victim for their damages. Your DUI trucking accident lawyers from Cohen & Cohen can file a lawsuit against the driver who caused your injury or injuries in Reston, or in a different Commonwealth of VA city . This can move forward even if the person is incarcerated. If they have any assets of value such as a home or property, at the conclusion of a successful lawsuit assets can be liquidated to compensate you for your damages.

A DUI Lawyer Who Can Protect Your Rights

If you were seriously injured by a DUI driver, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages. Call us at Cohen & Cohen to request a free consultation with a DUI lawyer who can review your case and provide you with more specific information. For Reston, VA trucking accident lawyers that DUI accident victims and their families recommend, contact Cohen & Cohen today.

Dangers of Trucking Accidents

Because of their size, large commercial trucks are significantly more difficult to operate and control compared to typical passenger automobiles. Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, big rigs, and other kinds of commercial trucks can weigh up to 20+ times the weight of most passenger autos. With these kinds of ratios, no matter how good of an automobile driver someone is, they usually have no defense against an out of control commercial truck.

The sooner you call a lawyer after a Reston, VA trucking accident, the sooner they may be able to start defending your and your loved ones’ rights.

A few decades ago, commercial trucking companies and drivers came under harsh scrutiny for not following the laws and regulations for safely driving large commercial trucks. It was found that drivers regularly exceeded their maximum number of driving hours allowed and that many drivers were doing drugs while driving in order to stay awake (and for other reasons.) This led to the government cracking down on trucking companies and their tightening up regulations to try to make America’s highways safer.

Even though the commercial trucking industry has gotten better about their safety practices and enforcing them, accidents that cause great damage, injury, and oftentimes, loss of life, are common.

If you are in need of a highly rated Reston, VA trucking accident lawyer, contact Cohen & Cohen, today.