Richmond Large Truck & Common Carrier Accident Attorneys

We've Recovered Millions for Our Clients

Have you been injured in an accident with a heavy truck? Or have you lost a loved one due to a tragic airplane crash or other devastating accident? The large truck and common carrier accident lawyers at Page Law Firm, P.C. are experienced in handling a broad range of accident claims, including those caused by semi-trucks, busses, trains, airplanes, and other commercial vehicles and common carriers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, 5,237 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes, a 2% increase from the previous year. In the United States, large truck and bus injury crashes increased 13% between the years 2016 and 2019.

Of the approximately 510,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2019, approximately 1% were fatal and 29% involved injuries. Over half of all trucking accidents occur in rural areas and on interstate highways. Bus accidents tend to occur in more urbanized areas.

Our tenacious team will stop at nothing to secure the fair and just compensation you deserve, so don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss your legal rights and options right away! We offer free consultations to all potential clients.

Consult a Richmond truck and common carrier accident attorney before talking to a representative of the truck’s insurance company—call (804) 352-2030 or send us a message online to get started on your case.

Who Is Liable for Truck Accidents?

Depending on how your accident was caused, one or more of the following parties may be held liable:

• The truck driver: If the accident was caused by driver error, the trucker can be held at fault. Such accidents often involve reckless driving like speeding, drinking and driving, and a lack of familiarity with an area’s roads and terrain.
• The trucking company: If the trucking company fails to properly take care of their trucks or mismanages their drivers, they may be held solely or jointly liable for damages. Instances trucking companies are found to be at fault often include pressuring their drivers to work overtime, not performing regular maintenance on their trucks, and poorly training drivers.
• The loading company: If the company responsible for loading the cargo does so incorrectly, and this leads to an accident, the loading company may be held liable. For instance, an accident may be caused if a truck’s cargo spills all over the highway.
• The truck’s manufacturer: If the truck itself malfunctions, the designer or maker of the vehicle or any of its parts may be found at fault for your injuries. For example, if the brakes fail.

What is a Common Carrier?

The federal government has created regulations regarding the liability to passengers injured while using a common carrier. A common carrier is one who represents to the public that its business is one of transporting persons or cargo from place to place for compensation, and such services are generally open to the public.

Generally, commercial buses, ferries, trains, and airplanes are considered common carriers. There are some exceptions to this definition, such as with airplanes, vessels, "scenic railroads" or private charter transportation. In most situations, a common carrier is generally required to use the highest degree of care, diligence, and vigilance in the transport of its passengers to the appropriate destination. The carrier must have the necessary equipment and a reasonable degree of skill to carry out the transportation of passengers.

Common carriers are not, however, insurers of their passengers' safety. Rather, the degree of care and diligence that they must exercise is only such as can reasonably be exercised consistent with the character and mode of conveyance adopted and the practical operation of the business of the carrier.

In common carrier accident cases such as airplane accidents or bus accidents, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and enable physicians and/or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries.

When Should You Consider a Claim for Injuries or Loss?

If you have been wrongfully injured at no fault of your own due to an accident involving a heavy commercial truck or a common carrier vehicle, you likely have a claim for damages. This includes people who suffer what is known as "soft tissue injuries" such as neck and back sprains, as well as people who suffer catastrophic injuries such as broken bones, brain injuries, injuries requiring surgery and paralysis. This area of practice includes premise liability and wrongful death cases resulting from these accidents.

If you have suffered a serious injury and have incurred significant medical expenses and/or endured other losses, compensation may be available to you, such as recompense for:

• All past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages/loss of earning capacity
• Funeral and burial expenses, in the event of a wrongful death
• Property damage repair and replacement costs
• Pain and suffering damages
• Other out of pocket expenses

Call Our Truck & Common Carrier Attorneys Now for a Free Consultation!

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, delivery truck, common carrier, or another commercial vehicle, reach out to a lawyer right away to discuss your legal rights and options. The Richmond truck and common carrier accident attorneys at Page Law Firm, P.C. possess decades of experience investigating and litigating accident claims and have what it takes to stand up for your interests in court.

We represent people who have been injured in automobile and commercial vehicle accidents, including crashes involving tractor trailers, buses, trains, airplanes, and more. You need to consult an attorney before talking to a representative of the insurance company. We will immediately review your information and respond within 24 hours. We handle accident cases throughout Virginia.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or death as a result of an accident, please immediately contact Page Law Firm P.C. at (804) 352-2030 for an initial free consultation or click here to complete our secure online consultation form.