Many truck crashes change people’s lives in very personal ways. Because of the enormous weight and, often, speed of commercial tractor-trailers, the damage they do can be horrific.
Legal avenues for making recovery as complete as possible involve especially complex legal knowledge, skills and commitment, but they are available and familiar to attorneys and the Connecticut court system.
Truck crashes in Connecticut
It might be that no state knows the dangers of truck crashes better than Connecticut. Residents who are old enough might remember the 1983 crash of a truck at toll booths of the Connecticut Turnpike, killing seven people. Public reaction to the fiery crash played a role in removing toll booths from the state.
Getting compensation and justice for victims of truck crashes is often urgent for the victim’s physical and mental health. Plus, the cost of legal settlements may be a major factor in encouraging safer practices in the trucking industry.
Identifying the appropriate people responsible
A civil lawsuit must seek damages from those who are responsible, or liable, for the crash. Truck crashes are unusual for the wide variety and large number of liable people and organizations that often fail at the same time allowing the crash to happen.
Here are only a few examples.
The truck driver may have fallen asleep. The driver would likely be liable as a result, but the demands that their work schedule might place on them can also make it extremely difficult to function safely. The driver’s employer may bear some of the responsibility.
Often, the driver is an independent contractor, either in fact or in name only. Even ownership and maintenance of the truck might be the hauling company’s, the driver’s or someone else’s.
And then there is the question of cargo. Incorrect loading can contribute to the crash and the nature of the cargo, and whether the driver fully understands it, can have major consequences.
The damage a victim suffers can also be complex
The kinds of losses a victim might need to seek depend on what they have lost because of the crash. Among others, these might include:
- Short-term and long-term medical bills.
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation.
- Repair or replacement of a vehicle or other property.
- Loss of income and lost earning potential.
- Pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and/or disfigurement.
Due to the nature of these vehicles and the damage they can do, it is common for victims of commercial truck crashes to suffer more than one of these types of losses, along with others.
