Truck Accident Attorney

Serving West Virginia and Ohio, including Parkersburg, Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, Wheeling, Belpre, and Athens

Truck accidents in the U.S. number around 500,000 every year and result in an average of 5,000 deaths. Due to the excessive size and weight of trucks, injuries sustained in truck accidents are often catastrophic. After a serious truck accident, victims often face costly medical bills that may place a substantial financial burden on their families. The West Virginia and Ohio truck accident lawyers at Jan Dils & Jim Leach, Attorneys at Law are familiar with the tactics insurance companies may use to keep you from getting a fair settlement. We apply years of experience to each accident case and work to represent your claim with a carefully planned strategy and strong evidence.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There are a variety of reasons truck accidents occur. Unfortunately, many of them are the result of some form of negligence.

Jackknifing occurs when a truck folds as the trailer tries to pass the cab. It usually happens to an empty vehicle. Several things can cause jackknifing, such as slick or uneven road surfaces, sudden turning or braking, and brake malfunction. In turn, the jackknifing can cause a serious truck accident involving other vehicles.

Stopping distance required for trucks is much greater than stopping distance required for passenger vehicles. If a truck is following another vehicle too closely, it may be difficult for the truck driver to avoid a collision in the event of a short stop.

Equipment failure including brakes, turn signals, steering components, and tires are just some of the parts of trucks that can fail and cause devastating accidents. Trucking laws require regular inspection, but laws and regulations are not always obeyed.

Blind spots in trucks are much larger than in passenger vehicles. These blind spots can prevent truck drivers from seeing nearby vehicles. Therefore, it is important to be careful when passing a truck on the highway. It is likely that you will be in its blind spot during the process.

Many truck drivers are forced to work long hours in order to meet their deadlines. As a result, truck driver fatigue contributes to many truck accidents. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is also a leading cause of truck accidents.

Contributors to Accidents

There are a variety of parties which may be held responsible for your truck accident, including:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The truck manufacturer

Our West Virginia and Ohio truck accident attorneys have extensive experience handling these complex cases, and we will make sure the proper parties are held accountable for your injuries.

What to Do after a Truck Accident

If you are involved in a truck accident, you should seek medical help immediately. If your injuries are not too severe, you should also make sure to take the following steps before leaving the scene of the accident:

• Gather as much information about the truck driver and trucking company as possible including names, driver's license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information
• Take of the accident scene
• Contact the police so that they can fill out an accident report at the scene
• Call legal representation as soon as possible

It is important to consult an experienced truck accident attorney before admitting fault or making a statement to the insurance company. These statements can be used by insurance companies to limit the amount of your settlement.

For additional information, please read our Truck Accident Questions page.

Please contact our West Virginia and Ohio truck accident lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. Our lawyers represent truck accident victims throughout West Virginia and Southern Ohio including the communities of Parkersburg, Huntington, Wheeling, Morgantown, Charleston, Belpre, and Athens.