Bridgeport Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Attorney in Bridgeport, CT

Truck accidents are, oftentimes, more serious than car crashes. Due to the sheer size of these vehicles, the resulting injuries and property damage can be astronomical. Getting into a truck accident can have a major effect on both your physical safety and your finances. If you were injured in a truck accident, a Bridgeport truck accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for your damages.

Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different?

Truck accidents aren’t your typical car crashes. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer slams into a compact car, innocent victims suffer catastrophic injuries. They also face an overwhelming pile of medical expenses and the daunting task of taking on big trucking companies and their insurance adjusters. This is where a skilled Bridgeport truck accident attorney steps in.

Bridgeport is a commercial hub. Every day, I-95, Route 8, and city streets are filled with heavy commercial trucks traveling to and from the Port of Bridgeport. With thousands of vehicles on the move each day, accidents happen. And in most cases, truck accident cases are much more complex than simple fender-benders. There are often multiple parties involved, such as the driver, trucking company, and even the company that loaded the cargo.

As a result, these claims require extensive investigation, a thorough understanding of federal and state trucking laws and regulations, and a law firm with the resources to aggressively advocate on your behalf.

Connecticut Truck Accident Laws

Truck drivers and trucking companies are bound by traffic laws and safety regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces national safety standards for the trucking industry. These laws and regulations set limits on a truck driver’s on-duty hours behind the wheel, legal cargo weight limits, and vehicle inspection requirements. These rules are in place to protect the public, and if they are violated, accidents can occur.

Drivers and trucking companies are also governed by Connecticut law. For instance, all drivers must follow state traffic laws relating to speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving. Violations of traffic laws provide evidence of negligence in a truck accident case. Bridgeport truck accidents require a response from the Bridgeport Police Department and Connecticut State Police.

In the event of a collision, police will carefully investigate any violation of trucking and traffic laws by the driver and the trucking company. Knowing the overlap of these two sources of law is important when it comes to seeking compensation. A Bridgeport injury lawyer experienced in truck accident cases can help unravel complex legal issues in a truck accident claim and determine liability.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents occur for a wide variety of reasons, and many of them are the result of preventable human error. While any driver can make mistakes, it only takes one when you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle the size of a commercial truck. Identifying the cause of an accident is a vital part of filing a claim. Some common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver Fatigue: Hours of service laws and regulations are set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. However, truckers often drive for longer periods of time in order to make deliveries or to meet a shipping deadline. Fatigue and sleepiness can significantly impair a driver’s ability to react to a dangerous situation and increase the risk of lane drift.
• Driver Distraction: Truckers spend hours on the road every day. The temptation to use a phone, a GPS device, eat, or drink while behind the wheel can have deadly consequences.
• Reckless Driving: Large trucks can’t stop nearly as quickly as passenger vehicles. Speeding, especially on busy highways, and failing to drive with care can lead to serious accidents.
• Improperly Loaded Cargo: Shipping or hauling that is not properly balanced in a trailer can make a truck unstable and increase the risk of rollover or jackknife accidents.

The risks to motorists and truck accidents in Bridgeport are increased due to congested highways, busy intersections, and large amounts of truck traffic that are headed to and from the Port of Bridgeport. Identifying the cause of an accident is a critical component of proving liability for an accident and ensuring a victim receives full and fair compensation for his or her losses.

Common Injuries in Truck Accidents in Bridgeport, CT

Truck accidents can be life-changing events. In 2024 in Connecticut, there were 27 large trucks and buses involved in fatal accidents. A reported 1,692 vehicles were involved in non-fatal accidents. This also resulted in 721 total injuries.

In most crashes, the size and weight of the 18-wheeler dictate that occupants of the smaller passenger vehicle will bear the brunt of the impact. This often results in catastrophic injuries and a lengthy and costly road to recovery. Some common injuries suffered due to truck accidents include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Head trauma can lead to concussions, skull fractures, or brain damage. In some cases, victims may lose their memory, have trouble focusing, or suffer permanent cognitive impairment.
• Broken Bones: The force from a truck crash is often enough to break several bones. Broken bones often require surgical intervention to heal, including pins and plates.
• Injury to the Spinal Cord: Spinal injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis. Back injuries may not seem serious, but a slipped disc can leave a victim in chronic pain and unable to move without assistance.
• Internal Injuries: Injuries to the kidneys, spleen, or liver can occur due to blunt-force trauma. Internal bleeding may not be apparent at first, but it can lead to death in a matter of hours.
• Burns: Trucks that transport fuel or hazardous materials carry an increased risk of fire and explosion. Burn injuries are often disfiguring and require painful skin grafts.
• Crushed Body Parts: Arms, legs, hands, and feet may be crushed or severed in a high-impact crash. An amputation often means a permanent alteration to the victim’s way of life.
• Tissue Injuries: While whiplash, torn ligaments, and muscle damage appear minor, they have the potential to generate enduring pain and diminish overall life quality.

In addition to physical pain and suffering, victims of truck accidents are often left with a wide range of problems that impact every area of their lives. Some victims cannot work for months, or even years, if at all. Others may need ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, or special equipment to perform basic functions, such as wheelchairs or home modifications.

Bridgeport families face significant financial hardship after experiencing these debilitating injuries. Coping with mounting medical bills and the loss of income, it can be difficult to make ends meet and keep up with day-to-day expenses. Some victims may also experience psychological distress as a result of their injuries, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Liability in Bridgeport Truck Accident Cases

Determining liability is one of the most complicated issues in a truck accident claim. While most car accidents are straightforward as far as liability is concerned, a trucking case may involve numerous parties. The case involves multiple parties, where each has its own insurance provider and legal representation. Some common responsible parties include:

• The truck driver. When a driver is speeding, driving while fatigued or distracted, or impaired by alcohol or drugs, the driver may be directly liable for a crash.
• The truck driver’s employer. Trucking companies can hold responsibility when they allow unsafe practices, including truck overloading and driver rest break violations, combined with excessive schedule pressure.
• Cargo loaders. If a load wasn’t properly secured and moved around while in transit, the parties who loaded it onto the truck may be partially liable.
• Maintenance workers and providers. Trucking companies require that trucks go through regular safety inspections and repairs. If a maintenance company or service failed to identify or correct a safety hazard, it may be liable.
• Manufacturers. Defective truck parts, like brakes or tires, may cause catastrophic accidents. Drivers, passengers, and other victims can bring product liability claims against the truck manufacturer.

Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence standard. This means that you can recover if you were partially at fault, unless you were more than 50% at fault for the accident. If, for instance, the jury determines that you were 20% at fault, then your award will be reduced by 20%. Under this legal rule, it becomes vital to gather strong evidence demonstrating the primary responsibility of the truck driver or company to build an effective case.

Hire a Bridgeport Trucking Accident Lawyer at Buckley Wynne & Parese

The Buckley Wynne & Parese Bridgeport office has years of experience fighting for injury victims and their families. Our attorneys have decades of collective experience handling truck accident cases. We know the complex rules, insurance tactics, and the challenges that come with having multiple potentially responsible parties in commercial truck crashes.

Each case is handled directly by an attorney. We support our clients at each legal stage from fact investigation to insurance negotiation and possible claim filing. We are familiar with the roads, trucking routes, and the courts of Bridgeport and surrounding towns, including the Bridgeport Superior Court.

An experienced Bridgeport truck accident attorney greatly increases your likelihood of obtaining full compensation for medical bills and lost wages, along with pain and suffering.

Contact Buckley Wynne & Parese

If you were injured in a truck accident in Bridgeport, hire a truck accident lawyer today. Buckley Wynne & Parese can help. Contact us today to get started.

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