Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer
in Charleston, WV
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic. Too often, they could be avoided if truck drivers and trucking companies were more cautious. You deserve compensation if you’ve been injured with an 18-wheeler, semi, tractor-trailer, or another commercial truck. The Charleston commercial truck accident attorneys at Warner Law Offices, PLLC, have the experience, reputation, and resources to help you take on the powerful trucking company and win a sizable settlement or jury award.
Make it a fair fight by putting our award-winning West Virginia trial attorneys in your corner. We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation, so contact our law office in Charleston, WV, to schedule yours today.
- How Warner Law Offices Can Help You After a Commercial Truck Accident in Charleston
- How Common Are Commercial Trucking Accidents in West Virginia?
- Decades of Experience Handling All Types of Commercial Truck Accident Cases
- Common Truck Accident Injuries
- Who’s Liable For My Injuries After a Commercial Trucking Accident in Charleston?
- What Damages Are Available to Victims of Commercial Trucking Accidents?
- What’s the Statute of Limitations for West Virginia Commercial Truck Accident Lawsuits?
- Call Our Experienced Charleston Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers For Help
How Warner Law Offices Can Help You After a Commercial Truck Accident in Charleston
Accidents involving commercial trucks are inherently complicated. They require extensive—and often costly—investigations. State and federal trucking regulations apply. There are complex matters of liability.
Plus, taking on a powerful corporation and accusing them or their employee of causing a devastating accident can be intimidating. Fortunately, you don’t have to take on a commercial trucking company alone. Our highly acclaimed Charleston personal injury lawyers are ready to take charge of your fight for compensation
We’ve gained national recognition as top trial attorneys who go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of the people we represent
When you turn to us for help after an accident with a commercial truck in Charleston, you’ll be able to count on us to do the following:
- Level the playing field against tough adversaries, including billion-dollar trucking companies and aggressive insurers
- Show the defendant that you will not be pushed around or manipulated into accepting a settlement for less than your commercial trucking accident case is worth
- Coordinate a thorough independent investigation into your commercial truck accident
- Analyze truck black box data, pre-and-post trip inspection records, inspection reports, maintenance records, driver communication logs, company hiring and training policies, hours of service records, dash cam footage, property damage, medical records, and other critical pieces of evidence
- Help you thoroughly understand your legal rights and be available to answer your most pressing questions throughout the claims process
- Consult with trucking industry specialists, truck mechanics, forensic specialists, medical professionals, accident reconstructionists, and other experts
- Determine if the commercial driver or trucking company violated any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration trucking regulations
- Build a compelling legal claim for damages that proves the trucking company’s liability and forces meaningful settlement negotiations
At Warner Law Offices, the threat of litigation is always on the table. As we build your case, we’ll prepare as if it’s going to trial. This not only helps us put together the best possible arguments for you but ensures we’re ready to go if you don’t receive a meaningful settlement offer. As leaders in truck accident litigation, we’ve forced negligent truckers, trucking companies, insurers, and powerful corporations to pay our deserving clients tens of millions in life-changing monetary awards. Our reputation as winning trial attorneys is well known, which can greatly benefit you during negotiations.
We’re here to help you get through this incredibly difficult time. Call our truck accident attorneys in Charleston to get started today. Your first consultation is free.
How Common Are Commercial Trucking Accidents in West Virginia?
Commercial trucks log millions of miles on West Virginia roads annually. It’s unusual not to share the road with large commercial rigs as you’re traveling on Interstates 64, 77, and 79 through Charleston.
However, given most commercial trucks’ size, weight, and length, driving alongside big rigs can be quite dangerous. One minor mistake or lapse of judgment can cause a truck to crash, which puts others on the road in grave danger
Commercial truck accidents are incredibly common in West Virginia, with more than 1,000 reported collisions annually. In 2022, 1,003 commercial truck accidents involving 1,084 vehicles were reported statewide. Accidents involving commercial rigs tend to be quite serious. In 2022, these accidents caused at least 405 injuries and 29 fatalities.
Decades of Experience Handling All Types of Commercial Truck Accident Cases
No two accidents involving commercial trucks are the same. Every crash has its own unique set of circumstances. When you’ve been injured in a commercial trucking accident in Charleston, it’s important to enlist the help of a law firm with extensive experience representing clients in all different types of commercial vehicle accident cases.
At Warner Law Offices, we have decades of experience handling commercial truck accident cases involving
- Jackknife accidents
- Override accidents
- Underride accidents
- Rollovers
- Bobtail accidents
- Dead-head accidents
- Dump-truck accidents
- Wide-turn accidents
- Sideswipes
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Tire blowouts
- Fatal accidents
Our skilled attorneys understand what makes each commercial truck accident different. We know the best ways to approach an investigation, which evidence can be most helpful in a specific situation, and how to build a successful legal claim that produces a meaningful financial recovery
Put our considerable experience as commercial truck accident litigators to work for you. Call our law office in Charleston to set up a time for a free consultation today.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
The average commercial 18-wheeler is 13.5 feet tall, 8.5 feet wide, and 72 feet long. Fully loaded, a commercial rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
In contrast, your average midsize sedan is 14 feet long and weighs about 3,300 pounds.
So, it’s no surprise that occupants of smaller passenger vehicles tend to suffer the most catastrophic injuries in accidents with large commercial vehicles.
Some of the most commonly reported commercial vehicle accident injuries include the following
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal fractures
- Broken bones
- Chest injury
- Crushing injury
- Amputation
- Severe burns
- Eye injury
- Vision or hearing loss
- Nerve damage
- Internal organ damage
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death
Never underestimate the seriousness of your injuries. An adrenaline surge can frequently mask an injury’s pain or symptoms. Delaying medical treatment can have dire consequences, including possible infections, worsening conditions, and even death. Protect yourself—and get critical evidence for your commercial truck accident lawsuit—by immediately seeking medical care at a local hospital in Charleston, WV.
Who’s Liable For My Injuries After a Commercial Trucking Accident in Charleston?
In West Virginia, anyone who directly or indirectly contributes to a wreck shares liability for a commercial truck accident.
Negligent Commercial Truck Driver
A commercial truck driver can be liable if their negligence causes or contributes to the accident. For example, drivers can be considered negligent if they’re fatigued because they violate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations, make braking errors, speed or drive too fast for road conditions, text while driving, or neglect important vehicle inspections.
Commercial Trucking Company
It’s essential to identify who owns a commercial vehicle after it’s involved in an accident. Owners can be liable for commercial vehicle accidents for negligent hiring, failing to adhere to mandatory inspection and maintenance regulations, or knowingly putting an unsafe vehicle on the road.
The owner and operator of a commercial truck can also be vicariously liable for the negligence of its driver if that driver is an employee. In other words, the trucking company can be liable for the mistakes and errors of its driver.
Commercial Truck Manufacturer
Sometimes defects in vehicles or vehicle components can cause trucks to malfunction or crash. In these situations, the company responsible for designing, manufacturing, or selling the commercial truck could be strictly liable for resulting injuries or deaths.
Government Agencies
Local, state, or federal government agencies can be liable for a commercial trucking accident if defective road conditions play a role in a wreck. Road defects can include poor road design, missing or obstructed signage, or badly damaged roadways.
Negligent Third-Party Motorist
Truck drivers and trucking companies aren’t always solely or entirely to blame for commercial trucking accidents. In some situations, other motorists make mistakes that cause or contribute to accidents. These other motorists—including drivers of passenger vehicles, bus drivers, truck drivers, or motorcyclists—can be liable for their negligence.
Contact Warner Law Offices, PLLC for a free consultation. Call us at (304) 345-6789 or message us for experienced representation.
What Damages Are Available to Victims of Commercial Trucking Accidents?
In West Virginia, you can seek economic and non-economic damages after a commercial truck accident.
Economic damages help to make up for the financial losses you experience because of your commercial truck accident, such as
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Disability
- Lost wages
- Nursing care
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages help to offset the more difficult-to-value losses you experience as a commercial truck accident victim, such as
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Inconvenience
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
The trucking company will invest significant time and resources to fight your personal injury claim. Their attorneys might downplay the seriousness of your injuries and minimize the overall impact the crash has had on your life. Our commercial trucking attorneys in Charleston won’t let them call the shots.
When we take your case, we’ll launch an extensive investigation. We aim to gather evidence and determine why and how the accident happened. We’ll bring in experts and specialists—particularly those with insight into commercial vehicle accidents—and rely on their insight as we analyze the more complex aspects of your case.
Taking a detailed, thoughtful approach to your case will allow us to build a more compelling legal claim that forces the trucking service or its insurance company to negotiate fairly.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for West Virginia Commercial Truck Accident Lawsuits?
You’ll have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal commercial vehicle accident, you’ll have two years from the date of their wrongful death to take legal action.
Once the statute of limitations expires, you’ll lose the opportunity to hold the negligent truck driver and trucking company responsible for your life-changing accident.
Call Our Experienced Charleston Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers For Help
You don’t need to struggle with the consequences of a commercial truck accident alone. The negligent truck driver and the trucking company that owns the rig must be held accountable. Warner Law Offices, PLLC can help you take action and demand the top-dollar financial award you need and deserve.
Take this opportunity to focus on getting back on your feet. Let our award-winning Charleston commercial truck accident attorneys take on the trucking company and fight to get you maximum compensation.
We’ve won tens of millions for truck accident victims. Now we’re ready to fight for you. Call our law office in Charleston to set up a time to talk about the details of your commercial truck accident case today. Your initial case evaluation is free.
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Bobby has received many accolades throughout the years from both his peers in the legal community, as well as the media. The National Trial Lawyers association named Bobby a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and he has been selected as a Member of the Nation’s Top One Percent. Additionally, he has been named a Best Attorneys of America by Rue Ratings, which also named Warner Law Offices to its Best Law Firms of America.
We represent clients across West Virginia and surrounding areas, providing compassionate client service and relentless advocacy in and out of the courtroom.
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