Mechanicsville truck accident lawyers

Mechanicsville Truck Accident Lawyers

Holding truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for the injuries and deaths they cause

Larger tractor-trailers, semis, and rigs regularly use I-295, U.S. Route 360, and other federal and state roads to deliver goods into Mechanicsville. Local delivery trucks, flatbeds, and other trucks regularly deliver goods from Walmart, local restaurants, and other businesses to local customers. Driving a truck can be dangerous because large trucks are harder to control, have significant blind spots, and may carry shifting cargo. Their size and weight can lead to severe impacts that cause serious injuries or fatalities.

At Phelan Petty Injury Lawyers, we understand the unique challenges in handling truck accident claims. There are often multiple defendants, and there may be multiple victims. Our Mechanicsville truck accident lawyers have the experience and resources to show how truck crashes happen and who is liable. We can seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and all other damages. Contact us today to discuss your right to compensation.

Our record of verdicts and settlements includes the following:

  • $1.1 million settlement of a wrongful death case involving a tractor-trailer crash. The defendants included the driver of the truck and the freight broker who hired the driver to transport the load.
  • $875,000 settlement in a wrongful death claim involving a tractor-trailer crash.
  • $550,000 settlement for a woman who suffered a fractured calcaneus (heel) in a crash with a commercial truck. The trucking company alleged that our client should have seen its driver making an illegal turn across Staples Mill Road in time to avoid the collision.

While past results do not guarantee future results, they do show how hard we work for our clients.

Practice Areas

Our Case Results

$3.75 Million
Wrongful Death Settlement - Swimming pool drowning
$3.5 Million
Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict - Misread x-ray led to failure to diagnose bowel injury

How can we help?

How dangerous are truck accidents?

Preliminary Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data for 2024 indicates approximately 3,078 large truck accidents in Virginia, 48 of which were fatal, and 874 caused injuries.

Some of the reasons truck driving is dangerous include:

  • Control difficulties. Large tractor-trailers, semis, and other trucks are difficult to control. That’s why many commercial trucks require drivers to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL), depending on vehicle weight and use.
  • Blind spots. Trucks need to use extra caution, especially when changing lanes, because the length, height, and width of trucks create side and rear visibility problems.
  • Greater impact. When a truck and a car collide, the occupants of the car will absorb most of the force of the collision.
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What different types of truck accident claims do you handle?

At Phelan Petty Injury Lawyers, we represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders when truck accidents happen in Mechanicsville. We also represent families when truck accidents are fatal. If you were involved in any type of truck accident, including any of the following, we can help you:

  • Jackknife accidents. These truck accidents happen when a tractor and a trailer travel at different speeds or in different directions. Wet roads and skidding often contribute to jackknife accidents. When a jackknife accident happens, the tractor and trailer move into each other at acute angles instead of being in unison with each other.
  • Rollovers. The center of gravity of trucks, combined with moving cargo and taking turns too fast, makes trucks prone to rollovers.
  • Tire blowouts. Commercial trucks have more tires than cars. An 18-wheeler typically has 18 tires — two on the front axle and sixteen on the drive and trailer axles combined. A truck driver can lose control if just one of those tires has a blowout.
  • Backing-up accidents. Truck drivers often need to back out into traffic because there is not enough room to turn around. Because most large commercial trucks have limited or no rearward visibility, backing can be dangerous without mirrors, cameras, or spotters.
  • Underride accidents. Federal law generally requires rear underride guards on most trailers and semitrailers, subject to specific exemptions. Without these guards/protections, small cars can easily slide under a large truck during an accident, crushing the people in the small car. Front and side guards, though not mandatory, are also advisable.
  • Wide-turn accidents.Trucks need more room to make a turn than smaller vehicles. Some trucks need to use another lane to complete their turn. Vehicles in the lanes next to a turning truck can be crushed if the truck driver is not careful.
  • Blind spot accidents.As we discussed above, large trucks have blind spots because most of their length and the rear of the truck lack windows. Even seeing in front of the truck can be hard because of the truck's height. Truck drivers need to use the latest technology and use extra caution, especially when turning or changing lanes.
  • Overpass accidents.Trucks and trucking companies need to be aware before entering a road whether their truck can fit under any overpasses.
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Why do truck accidents happen in Mechanicsville?

Some of the leading causes of truck crashes are:

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  For commercial drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle, a BAC of 0.04% can trigger serious consequences (including CDL-related penalties), while the per se BAC limit for noncommercial drivers is typically 0.08%. The combination of driving and using drugs, including prescription drugs, may also be dangerous.
  • Driving while distracted. Truck drivers need to have their hands on the wheel, their eyes on traffic, and their minds on how to respond to dangers at all times. Driver distraction includes texting, using a mobile phone (one that is not hands-free), eating, drinking, looking at a GPS, personal grooming, and focusing on entertainment devices.
  • Driver fatigue. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates how many hours truck drivers can drive before they must take rest breaks and long breaks. Most interstate commercial drivers must use electronic logging devices (ELDs), subject to limited federal exemptions.
  • Driver performance. Truck drivers are responsible for knowing the rules of the road for driving in Virginia. Truck drivers can be held liable if speeding, driving too closely, failing to yield, passing improperly, or other driving violations cause accidents.
  • Improper cargo loads. Truck drivers, the companies involved in the shipment, and loading/unloading companies may be liable for failing to properly load trucks. Improper loading can cause cargo to shift or spill, potentially leading a driver to lose control of their truck.
  • Defective truck parts. Defective brakes, tires, hydraulic systems, windshield wipers, and other defects can cause a truck accident in Mechanicsville. Manufacturers may be liable for defective truck parts. Trucking companies may be liable for failing to conduct inspections or failing to remove their trucks from the road until necessary repairs of dangerous truck parts can be completed.
  • Inadequate training. Truck drivers and truck companies should know the dangers and limits of the type of truck they drive. Drivers should know the routes they are taking. They should understand how to anticipate and respond to specific dangers such as shifting cargo or skidding.
  • Road conditions. Truck drivers in and near Mechanicsville should understand which roads trucks can and cannot use, how to drive when traffic is congested, how to drive near construction sites, how to drive when the roads are wet, and other dangerous road conditions.
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How does Phelan Petty Injury Lawyers fight for truck accident victims?

We have 20 years of experience representing truck accident victims and working relationships with liability and medical professionals. Our Mechanicsville truck accident lawyers advocate for accident victims in the following ways:

  • Hiring investigators to examine the road conditions where the accident happened, speaking with witnesses, examining damage to the vehicles, and inquiring with nearby businesses whether there is any video of the accident
  • Employing traffic reconstruction experts (when necessary) to show step-by-step how the truck accident happened
  • Reviewing the police report and speaking with the investigating officers
  • Examining any electronic driving logs (ELDs) that provide information about the shipment, path, and hours of operation of the truck
  • Reviewing insurance policies and all other relevant documents
  • Questioning every defendant through written and oral questions
  • Questioning witnesses in person
  • Working with your physicians to verify your diagnosis, reviewing the treatments you’ll need, understanding what complications may arise, and examining how your injuries are affecting every part of your life
  • Reviewing your lost income and benefits with employers and financial experts
  • Examining defective truck parts with product safety professionals
  • Assessing all your financial and personal damages
  • Negotiating with the insurance companies
  • Persuasively arguing your case before a judge and jury

You can trust us to build a strong case on your behalf.

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Who do you hold responsible for truck accidents?

At Phelan Petty Injury Lawyers, we can file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against everyone responsible for a truck accident. The defendants may include:

  • The truck driver
  • The employer of the truck driver
  • The business that owns the truck
  • The companies involved in the shipment
  • A truck broker who arranges the shipment
  • Truck maintenance and repair companies
  • Manufacturers of defective truck parts
  • The Virginia Department of Transportation or other governmental agencies/entities, pursuant to special notice requirements and immunity limitations under Virginia law.
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What’s the value of my truck accident claim in Mechanicsville?

Truck accidents often cause catastrophic, permanent, or chronic injuries. We can work with your doctors (and our network of doctors if necessary), your employers, financial experts, life planners, vehicle repair experts, appraisers, and other professionals – along with you and your family – to determine the value of your case. We can focus on all the small details that can maximize your recovery.

Our Mechanicsville truck accident lawyers seek compensation for all your past, current, and future damages, including:

  • Medical bills of every type (emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations, doctor visits, rehabilitative therapy, assistive devices, and medications) by every healthcare provider
  • Lost wages, benefits, business income, and other income losses, for as long as you cannot work
  • Your daily physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Any scarring or disfigurement
  • The loss of bodily function
  • The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
  • The loss of consortium (marital companionship and intimacy)

If a family member dies in a Mechanicsville truck accident, we may seek compensation for:

  • The funeral and burial bills
  • The loss of the financial support your loved one would have provided
  • The value of the household services your loved one would have provided
  • The loss of companionship, guidance, and love that your family member would have provided
  • Any outstanding medical bills of your loved one due to the accident that caused their death
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What is the time limit for filing a truck accident claim in Virginia?

Generally, truck accident victims must file a personal injury claim within two years from the date of the accident, while wrongful death claims must generally be filed two years from the date of death. Some shorter time limits may apply, such as claims involving the government.

Please contact us as soon as possible to help strengthen your legal case and your medical recovery.

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Do you have a Mechanicsville truck accident lawyer near me?

Yes. We can meet clients at our Richmond office, located at 3315 West Broad Street in Richmond. We can also consult with new clients by phone and via online video. If your health makes traveling too difficult, we can discuss alternate arrangements to meet with you.

We can answer your questions and prepare you for each step of the claims process.

Contact our Mechanicsville truck accident lawyers today

At Phelan Petty Injury Lawyers, our Mechanicsville truck accident attorneys understand how to prepare your case and how to anticipate and counter the arguments that insurance companies often make to try to deny or limit your claim. We can seek to restore your future.

To schedule a free consultation, contact us. We represent truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis. We serve clients throughout Virginia.