New Haven Truck Accident Lawyer

New Haven Truck Accident Attorney

New Haven is a beautiful city with several hidden gems to explore, but Connecticut is ranked among the worst states when it comes to road rage. Car accidents can be scary and stressful, and their complexity only rises when the accident involves an 18-wheeler or dump truck. Even if the accident details are clear, you may not know who to hold liable. A New Haven truck accident lawyer can help.

Truck Accidents Are Not Simple

On the surface, a truck accident might seem like a larger-scale car accident with a simple call to insurance, maybe you get the police to make a report, get your car repaired, or buy a new one, and the ordeal is over. With a truck accident, the logistics are much more complicated, and a New Haven personal injury lawyer can help you through.

For starters, there are usually multiple parties that share fault in a truck accident, which can include the driver, the trucking company, the maintenance firm, or the cargo loader, for example.

Next, the details of the accident will be scrutinized under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), a set of rules that outlines the regulations designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving buses and large trucks. The FMCSR holds drivers, fleet operators, and trucking companies to strict safety standards, enforced by the Department of Transportation.

Truck accident injuries are often more severe than those from passenger vehicle accidents. In 2023, the National Security Council recorded 5,472 crashes involving large trucks. Roughly 70% of the injuries sustained in these accidents were sustained by passenger vehicle occupants. This data point alone highlights the importance of working with an experienced attorney to file a claim if you are injured in a truck accident.

Understanding How Insurance Works in a Truck Accident

Insurance claims are complicated on their own, but navigating insurance claims when involved in a truck accident is especially challenging. Most large trucks operate as part of a fleet, and while a fleet may be owned by one entity, the trucks may be leased to another entity for operation, and the drivers are treated as independent contractors.

Each of these moving parts makes it difficult to determine the true defendant in an accident case, as each entity could insist that fault lies with the others.

Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, commercial trucking companies are required to carry a minimum of $750,000 in coverage, and this minimum increases based on the vehicle’s gross weight and the commodity transported. Coverage limits can reach as much as $5 million.

Most companies layer their insurance policies, meaning they have a primary policy, an excess or “umbrella” policy, and some may also have self-insured retentions. The primary policy often covers the first tier of damages, and the umbrella policy covers any additional losses that go beyond the primary policy’s limits. As a crash victim, it can be very hard to determine who should be paying for what as you put your life back together in the wake of your accident.

Sometimes, after catastrophic accidents, the carrier may decide to dissolve and reopen under a new name, limiting payouts to crash victims. Having a skilled attorney on your side who is highly familiar with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act can help you hold all parties responsible for your damages.

What To Look for When You Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

New Haven residents who are injured in a truck accident should seek medical attention immediately and document their injuries and any diagnoses. Document all details of the crash, including contact and insurance information from the other driver, to be used as evidence for your claim.

You have up to two years to report the accident in Connecticut, but reporting as soon as possible means you don’t lose details to time as your memory, or the memory of your witnesses, fades.

Other items to consider when you hire a truck accident lawyer include:

• Working with someone familiar with New Haven. The most helpful attorney will be the one familiar with the road system in New Haven and Connecticut as a whole, as well as the New Haven Judicial District courthouse.
• Access to expert witnesses. A truck accident case may require the input of specialists who can reconstruct the scene and speak to the feasibility of injuries or fault. Analysts for log records and maintenance records may also need to be called. Your attorney should have access to these resources.
• Transparency. Because truck accident claims are larger, your attorney’s payout will also be larger. Work with an attorney who explains clearly and thoroughly how they will be compensated and what you can expect as your case proceeds.
• A willingness to play the long game. Some accident cases have to go to trial, and you don’t want to work with an attorney who pushes you to settle early, causing you to miss out on compensation for your damages.

Hire an Attorney Who Understands

The attorneys of Balzano & Tropiano combined bring over 50 years of experience to personal injury law. We examine all details of your case to determine the most effective approach to take, and we will not rush to settle prematurely.

We also pride ourselves on winning the largest settlements possible for our clients, who deserve care and attention as they recover from a serious accident. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident and don’t know where to start, we can help you take the first step.

FAQs

Contact Balzano & Tropiano for Your Truck Accident Claim

A truck accident is the last thing anyone wants to go through, but if you are injured from an accident, you need the support of someone knowledgeable and trustworthy. The attorneys of Balzano & Tropiano are eager to fight on your behalf so that you get compensation for all your injuries and damages. Contact us today so we can help you take action on your case.