Truck Accidents in Vermont
There are millions of delivery trucks on America’s roads, pushing to meet tight deadlines with very little sleep and very high speeds. Unfortunately, this makes accidents in this industry far too common. When a semi-truck collides with another vehicle traveling on the interstate, it is nearly impossible for there to be anything less than catastrophic damage done.
Eighteen wheeler crashes are often lethal and, unsurprisingly, it is rarely the semi driver who is the casualty. As a matter of fact, larger trucking companies always have a team of accident response attorneys on retainer in order to keep legal costs lower.
Were You Involved in a Trucking Accident?
Handling a semi-truck accident on your own is nearly impossible with the team of lawyers and insurance companies you’ll be going up against. A case like this requires the expertise of the top truck accident attorneys in Rutland to ensure you are properly compensated for all of your damages.
and trial prep experts to ensure negligence is assigned to the responsible party, and you are fully compensated for your losses. Kalter, Kalter & Mabey uses trial prep experts and reconstructionists that can provide solid proof of responsibility in your case, and will fight for all you deserve.
Causes of Trucking Accidents
Typically, driver error is the cause of truck accidents in Rutland, Vermont. However, negligent behavior is also quite common and can include:
- Fatigue from the failure to take breaks and driving for too many hours a day or week.
- Drug and alcohol use to sustain energy or let loose a bit. These can interfere with judgement and are illegal for commercial truck drivers.
- Violations the posted speed limit or speeding in poor driving conditions.
- Operating a commercial vehicle without having been properly trained and/or licensed.
Other causes can include manufacturer negligence such as defective brakes, improper maintenance of the truck or trailer, and unrealistic corporate timetables that are in violation of the “Hours of Safety Regulations”.
Rollover Crashes
Rollover crashes comprise a significant percentage of 18-wheeler accidents. These accidents can occur for a number of reasons including miscalculating ramp speed, collisions, poor road conditions, as well as sudden steering maneuvers and others. Being involved in one if these accidents caused by a rollover typically involves serious injuries that necessitate compensation in order to handle medical expenses that go above and beyond the norm.
Procuring the money for future medical expenses requires a passionate, experienced truck accident attorney. Rutland, Vermont residents can rely on the top litigation team at Kalter, Kalter & Mabey to get them what they deserve.
Getting Total Compensation for our Clients
Total compensation means entirely different things to the opposing sides of a lawsuit. The attorneys for the trucking company have the overarching goal of limiting their clients required payout. This is contrary to the best interests of our client, and we will not stand for it.
First of all, there are many things to take into consideration when looking at what needs there may be in the future. For those who have been severely injured, there are possibly expenses not immediately noticed with the accident. Aside from the usual calculation of loss of income, job retraining could also be needed. Or perhaps you’re now wheelchair bound and renovations or a new home may be necessary to accommodate this. There are a multitude of potential expenses and our team of Rutland auto accident experts will make sure that they are included in the demanded compensation.
The Importance of Having the Best Rutland, Vermont Truck Accident Attorneys
Eighteen-wheeler litigation is made even more complex with the possible amount of negligent parties. There’s the truck driver, the truck manufacturer, the trucking company, government agencies failing to properly mark hazards, and some or all of these could be liable for an accident. We aggressively manage the many pieces of this kind of litigation and have collected millions of dollars in settlements for Kalter, Kalter & Mabey clients.
We strive to remove the stress from this process so you’re able to focus on recovery and get your life back on track. We know that nothing can replace a loved one, but we do seek to obtain full damages for the surviving family in order to remove as much financial burden as possible.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Due to the size and weight of a typical truck, there are special limitations and performance traits such as braking, acceleration, and visibility. A fully-loaded big-rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is roughly 27 times heavier than the typical passenger car. This means that even the slightest contact between a commercial truck and another vehicle can easily result in very serious injuries and loss of life. The most common causes of 18-wheeler accidents include:
- Speed too high for road for conditions
- Sleep-deprived truck driver
- Drug or alcohol impaired driver
- Unsafe turns
- Jackknifing
- Overturns/overcorrecting
- Mechanical failure
- Uneven load in truck
- Basic driver error
Who Holds Liability in a Trucking Accident?
It’s possible for the trucking company to be held liable if there’s an existing employment relationship with the driver and the company. However, it’s also possible that the trucking company AND the driver, along with the truck manufacturer, truck maintenance company, parts manufacturer and others may also be held responsible. We know this all sounds confusing. That’s because it is, but Kalter, Kalter & Mabey is one of the top personal injury law firms in Rutland, Vermont and we can help. Our aggressive litigation team and professional resources will uncover all the facts related to liability and determine what parties should be held accountable–and make sure it happens.