Yes. Always call. It’s a free service we offer to victims of personal injury.
The Thomson Law Firm offers FREE, no obligation case evaluations for FREE. That means you can call our office and speak to an intake specialist about the details of your case for FREE. During that call our intake specialist will ask you questions about how the accident occurred, the location of the accident, driver and passenger injuries and insurance information. If you don’t have a copy of the accident report, it is ok. We can get that for you, because we are here to help.
Should I Hire a Lawyer for my Trucking Accident?
That depends on many factors. Since most trucking accidents critical and serious injuries or death, the short answer is “yes”. A victim who is incapacitated by their injuries should be able to focus on healing, no fighting with a trucking or insurance company.
Trucks accidents are often complicated by a plethora of highway regulations and “best practices” guidelines put forth by the NHSTA. Find a trucking accident lawyer who knows what the driver should have been doing according to the high standards set by the government.
Truck Drivers Have to Be Trained, Right? So, why do these accidents happen in the first place?
- Driver fatigue— Driving a long-haul tractor trailer is a job. It is not a road trip in a lux RV. The men and women who operate these vehicles are often behind the wheel for hours without breaks or rest. They are prone to eat and drink behind the wheel and they sometimes fall asleep.
- Drugs and Alcohol—Drivers are constantly fighting fatigue. Many are driving at night and increases the chances of falling asleep at the wheel. Some drivers who feel pressured to make the deadlines for the long haul will turn to stimulants such as cocaine and extremely high amounts of caffeine. These stimulants artificially awaken the driver and will cause them to make riskier maneuvers, drive at unsafe speeds and be more distracted. Once the stimulants wear off, the driver is even sleepier than before and at greater risk of falling asleep. A recent study cited in Reuters Health found that 30% of long-haul big rig drivers admitted to using COCAINE.
- Inadequate Training—While requirements vary from state to state, tractor-trailer drivers must obtain a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License). In Virginia, a driver can apply for a CDL after completing no less than two years of safe driving, be at least 21 years old to drive across state lines or to haul haz-mat materials, and complete a 6 month period driving with a CLP (commercial learner’s permit during which time the applicant must ride along with someone with a CDL for the purposes of training.)
