Truck accidents often involve different and more complicated issues than typical car accidents. Bridgeport truck accident lawyers understand the complications involved with commercial truck litigation and can work with you to obtain the most favorable resolution to your case. Reach out to a team of tough, legitimate, and credible attorneys today.
Causes of Big Rig Accidents
Truck driver fatigue causes many accidents. Truckers often drive alone, for long hours, and many feel pressured to arrive at their destinations by certain times, which causes them to drive for longer hours than they should and to drive recklessly by speeding. A local attorney can help determine if driver fatigue or other factors caused the trucking accident by examining all of the evidence, such as by looking at:
- Hourly limits on the driver set forth by the trucking company in any employee manuals
- Hourly logs worked by the actual driver
- Inspection records of the truck
- Driver logs and onboard computers
- Police reports from the accident
- Black box on the truck
- Dispatcher communication
- Inspection records for the truck
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Potential Defendants
In trucking accidents, there is often more than one party that can be held responsible for the accident. A qualified Bridgeport truck accident attorney can help an injured victim identify all of the parties who were responsible in order to maximize the victim’s potential recovery of damages. Some of the potential defendants in a trucking accident are:
- The driver of the truck
- The driver’s employer
- The manufacturer of the truck
- Third-party contractors
- The insurance companies for any of the above parties
Companies that employ truck drivers are numerous. Some truckers work directly for the company for which they are delivering the goods. Other truck drivers work for separate shipping or trucking companies that are hired to transport goods. In both of those instances, those companies may be held liable for a truck accident if an accident occurred while the trucker was driving directly for those companies.
In many other situations, truckers work as independent contractors who own their trucks and work for various contracting companies to carry their goods for specific trips. In these situations, the contracting companies can be held partially legally responsible for an accident if a truck accident victim is able to demonstrate that the contracting company exercised a certain amount of control and oversight regarding the trucker’s driving, such as by setting the specific hours and delivery route. Local counsel with experience in truck litigation can work to examine the evidence to establish which parties were potentially to blame for a trucking accident.
How shared fault affects your claim
Connecticut follows modified comparative fault under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h: when the victim and the defendant share fault, the court reduces recoverable compensation by the victim's percentage of fault, and a victim whose share of fault is more than 50 percent may not recover at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes big rig accidents?
Truck driver fatigue causes many accidents. Truckers often drive alone for long hours and may feel pressured to arrive by certain times, which can lead them to drive longer than they should and to drive recklessly by speeding.
What evidence can help determine if driver fatigue or other factors caused a trucking accident?
Evidence that may be examined includes hourly limits set by the trucking company in employee manuals, hourly logs worked by the driver, inspection records of the truck, driver logs and onboard computers, police reports from the accident, the truck’s black box, dispatcher communications, and inspection records for the truck.
Who can be held responsible for a truck accident?
There is often more than one responsible party in a trucking accident. Potential defendants can include the truck driver, the driver’s employer, the manufacturer of the truck, third-party contractors, and the insurance companies for any of the above parties. Depending on the situation, companies that employ or hire truck drivers may be held liable, and contracting companies may be partially legally responsible if they exercised a certain amount of control and oversight, such as setting specific hours and a delivery route.
What compensation can a victim recover after a Bridgeport trucking collision?
Under Connecticut law, a victim can sue to recover quantifiable economic damages such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost present and future wages. They can also pursue non-quantifiable damages such as emotional and physical pain and suffering. In certain instances, courts may award punitive damages when the defendant is believed to have acted in a manner worse than negligence, such as recklessly or intentionally, including under Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-295 and under common law independent of this statute.
What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury or wrongful death claim in Connecticut after a truck accident?
The statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death action is two years under Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-584 and 52-555.
Potential Recovery of Losses Following a Bridgeport Trucking Collision
Under Connecticut law, a victim of a trucking accident can sue to recover for all of their quantifiable economic damages, such as for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost present and future wages. They can also pursue recovery for non-quantifiable damages, such as for their emotional and physical pain and suffering. In certain instances, courts even award punitive damages when the defendant is believed to have acted in a manner that is worse than negligence. If a victim can prove that the defendant acted recklessly or intentionally, then a court may award punitive damages under Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-295, as well as under common law independent of this statute.
It is, however, in the best interests of victims to act quickly. The statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death action is two years under Conn. In most cases a claim may not be brought more than three years from the act or omission complained of, even if the injury is discovered later. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-584 and 52-555. While this may seem like a substantial amount of time, court proceedings are time-consuming.
Contact a Bridgeport Truck Wreck Attorney Today
Accidents involving trucks are complicated. Put your trust into a skilled Bridgeport truck accident lawyer who can get you the compensation that you deserve. Call today to speak with a team of tough, legitimate, and credible attorneys who win cases with aggressive tactics.