New Haven Truck Accident Attorney

Have you or someone you care about been hurt in a collision with a truck in New Haven? If this is the case, you should understand the possibility that you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Weber & Rubano is the law firm New Haven residents go to when their case involves a truck collision. When truck drivers cause injuries to other drivers, we hold both the truck drivers and the organizations that employ them liable.

Why Choose Weber & Rubano as Your Truck Accident Lawyers In New Haven?

With over sixty years of experience handling personal injury claims in New Haven, the Weber & Rubano team always pursues the highest possible compensation. We are partners in your mission to find serenity and financial wholeness in the wake of your truck accident, having achieved many successful judgments and settlements throughout our long and illustrious history. To ensure that you receive justice, we will vigorously advocate on your side.

The procedure for getting started with Weber & Rubano is easy. Request your free, no-obligation case review with our New Haven truck accident lawyers today.

You’ll pay no fees until after we obtain your compensation.

A Brief Guide to Truck Accidents in Connecticut

Semi-trailer trucks towing tractor-trailers, often just called semis, are frequently used in the United States to tow freight. As much as these vehicles help transport goods across the country, they can also be disastrous for other drivers who share the road with them.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), semi-trucks are to blame for one-third of all fatal highway accidents in the US. In Connecticut, there were 189,921 vehicle collisions overall in 2021, and 5,543 of those collisions involved medium and large trucks with Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings greater than 10,000 pounds.

You might be entitled to compensation if you experienced losses due to a truck driver’s or a company’s carelessness.

Understanding the Most Common Truck Accidents in New Haven

Just like there are standard terms for car accidents and collisions in New Haven, there are unique terms associated with the special structures of the semi-truck. As they have a different shape than the standard car. Semis are larger, heavier, and longer, and they have decreased maneuverability.

This lack of ease of operation means that operators need to carry a specific driving license, known as a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive a commercial truck. Because semi trucks are much larger and heavier than most passenger vehicles, they require more skill and experience to operate safely.

Here are some of the most common forms of semi-truck and tractor-trailer accidents that could result in victim injury:

Jackknife accidents: these occur when the trailer slides forward and sideways, pulling the truck cab into a crash with the truck and trailer forming a shape like an open jackknife. Because this may abruptly block multiple lanes, it commonly causes one or more collisions with other vehicles.
Wide-turn accidents: semi-trucks with trailers need more space to be able to change lanes and turn effectively. Drivers can clip or sideswipe cars with their trucks or trailer if not careful.
Underride accidents: small vehicles can become lodged under the trailer of a semi-truck. While this is a common stunt in movies, in real life it can be catastrophic.
Cargo spillage: if the truck’s cargo is not properly loaded or fastened, it can spill out onto the road and put everyone in the proximity of the spill at risk.
Blind spots: semi-trucks have large blind spots due to the size of the truck and the elevated position of the driver. If truck drivers fail to properly check their blind spots they can cause an accident that severely injures or kills the other driver.
Rollovers: as the center of gravity of a truck is different than a standard car, this makes them much easier to roll if changing directions at high speeds.

Additionally, semi-trucks can be involved in any other number of standard types of car accidents like rear-ending, head-on, T-bone, and more.

Common Injuries Stemming from a Truck Accident in New Haven

Some common injuries that may result from a collision with a semi-truck include broken bones, bruises, cuts, and lacerations. More serious injuries may include internal organ damage, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, which can lead to paralysis.

In severe cases, a collision with a semi-truck can even be fatal — connect with a New Haven wrongful death lawyer today if this is the case to get the justice your loved one deserves.

Proving Liability In a New Haven Truck Accident Claim

It takes many different entities to ensure that a well-maintained truck with a secure, balanced load is on the road and driven by an alert, well-qualified driver. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has regulations in place for trucks and truck drivers to minimize the risks of accidents. These include regulations limiting driving hours, keeping driving hour logs, random driver drug testing, routine truck repair and maintenance, and regulations for ensuring loads are secure. When any of the involved entities depart from these regulations or fail to take reasonable care, the result can be a tragic accident. Proving liability requires a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the accident and prove the following legal tenants of liability:

That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road
They breached their duty through negligence
Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
The injury victim suffered damages from the accident

Common liable parties in New Haven truck accident cases include truck drivers, trucking companies, truck maintenance services, freight loading services, or the manufacturer of a defective truck part or equipment.

Does Your Truck Accident Case in New Haven Qualify for Damages?

Explore the damages you may be entitled to receive in your truck accident case.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the financial losses that a person suffers as a result of an accident. They may include:

Lost wages
Medical bills
Loss of future earning potential
And more, such as out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury, like travel expenses to see a specialist

The key thing to remember about economic damages is that they are losses that are the direct result of an accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Additionally, you may be eligible for non-economic damages in your truck accident case. Non-economic damages are given to make up for the accident-related costs that do not have an explicit monetary value, such as:

Pain and suffering
Loss of society and companionship
Emotional distress
Mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life

In some cases, additional non-economic damages may apply such as compensation for disfigurement, loss of limb, loss of vision or hearing, or the loss of an organ.

Punitive Damages

If the defendant can prove that the third party was responsible for an unusually heinous behavior, the court may decide to impose punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages. Damages intended to penalize a defendant for deliberate wrongdoing or gross carelessness that contributed to the cause of an accident that resulted in significant injury or death can be called punitive damages.

However, the amount of punitive damages is limited. In Connecticut, a punitive damage judgment can only be used to compensate the attorney expenses and court costs associated with the case.

In addition, for a plaintiff to be awarded punitive damages in the state of Connecticut, they have a heavy burden of evidence. To be eligible for punitive damages, the legal team initiating the lawsuit must demonstrate that the third party acted willfully and deliberately in their negligence.

What to Do After a Truck Accident In Connecticut

The aftermath of a serious commercial truck accident is often a chaotic and frightening scene, particularly when it involves a smaller vehicle outweighed by over 76,000 pounds in a collision with a fully loaded truck. As a victim of the accident, you may be unable to do anything other than wait for help, but if you or an uninjured person can use your phone safely, it’s possible to begin protecting your physical and financial future right at the accident scene and then during the weeks to follow. After a truck accident, do the following:

First, call 911 to report the accident and summon emergency services
Then, apply reasonable first aid and comfort to injury victims if you’re able
Use the phone’s camera to take photos of the damaged vehicles and the truck’s DOT information—typically displayed on the cab door or the side of the vehicle
Photograph the accident scene including anything relevant to the accident like an intersection, traffic signs, signal light, and skid marks
Add the contact information of the truck driver and trucking company
Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses

Always go directly to a hospital after a traffic accident, either in an ambulance or by arranging transportation. At the hospital, ask for a complete medical evaluation as well as treatment for your obvious emergency injuries. Ask the medical provider for a detailed report listing your injuries and prognosis as well as their recommended course of treatment for each injury.

Don’t forget to report the accident to your insurance company and request a copy of the police report. Then, reach out to the New Haven truck accident attorneys at Weber & Rubano before accepting an early settlement offer or otherwise dealing with the trucking company’s insurance company.

Work with or New Haven Truck Accident Lawyers at Weber & Rubano

The New Haven truck accident attorneys at Weber & Rubano, have different educational backgrounds and areas of expertise. We work closely with our personal injury clients to give them the finest defense so that everyone’s time and money are wisely spent. As one of Connecticut’s best personal injury law companies, you don’t pay a dime until we win your case. While representing you in court, we aim to get the best result possible for you.