West Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

Two people suffered serious injuries after a tractor-trailer collided with a Nissan Frontier pickup truck head-on Monday, July 26, 2010. The crash happened on U.S. 522 in Morgan County, West Virginia. According to the Herald-Mail newspaper, the accident occurred around 1:30pm after Hal Gamble drove his passenger truck across the center line into the path of a tractor-trailer hauling lumber.

The reasons for the crash are unknown at this point. Morgan County Sheriff officials reported that Hal Price and his wife, Suzie Price, had to be extricated from their mangled vehicle by rescue workers. Mr. Gamble was conscious but suffered severe injuries, as did his wife. Both victims are in their 60s. After being airlifted to Washington County Hospital, both Hal and Suzie Gamble were listed in serious but stable condition on Tuesday. The driver of the semi truck, Matt Price, was uninjured in the crash.

All too often, passengers and drivers who collide with tractor-trailers in West Virginia don't make it out of collisions like this one. That's why exercising proper defensive driving techniques and safety procedures is absolutely critical on the roads in West Virginia. This is true of both passenger vehicle drivers as well as truck drivers.

If you have been involved in a tractor-trailer accident through no fault of your own, you have rights. Contact a reliable tractor-trailer accident attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve. Similarly, an attorney can also help you recover damages for the wrongful death of a spouse or loved one.

In January, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced an interim ban on truck and bus driver texting on the highway. On April 1, 2010, the NHTSA took this action a step further, proposing making the ban on text messaging while driving a commercial truck or bus a permanent one nationwide. The proposed ban would apply to vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds and would carry either civil or criminal penalties for offenders.

Navigation devices, DVD players and cell phones have contributed to thousands of accidents across the United States, and given the deadliness of truck accidents, these types of distractions are all the more dangerous. Safety advocates from all corners of the nation are fighting back to keep drivers safe on the highways. According to the Department of Transportation, 5,870 people were killed and another 515,000 were injured in 2008 because of crashes in which the driver was distracted because of texting or talking on a cell phone, using a navigation device or some other type of distraction.

Even the trucking and bus industries support the ban, citing that their drivers would benefit from the proposal. Many companies have already enacted bans on texting while driving commercial vehicles. Additionally, many states have issued a texting-while-driving ban as well. 20 states and the District of Columbia already have bans on texting while driving and many more are following suit. Nine other states have bans on youth driver texting.

If you drive on I-68 or I-79, you know that texting by truck and bus drivers poses a huge danger to all drivers. If you've been the victim of a truck driver who was distracted on the road, call a truck accident lawyer in Elkins who can fight for all you deserve.

Known as The Mountain State, West Virginia is home to majestic views and winding passes through the Appalachian Mountains. While this scenery provides great backdrops for Sunday drives and postcard pictures, these mountain roads can also pose serious risks for drivers who come face-to-face with large trucks and tractor-trailers on West Virginia highways.

When a car gets into an accident with a semi truck, the car always loses. There is just no comparison in the size, weight and destructiveness of a semi truck versus a car. Sadly, the injury outcome is usually catastrophic. Severe injuries, disfigurement and even death can result from truck accidents in West Virginia. That's why it's so important to have a personal injury lawyer on your side when you've been involved in a truck accident.

A lawyer can prove that a semi truck may be at fault in the accident due to several mistakes, including speeding, reckless driving, improper maintenance of the truck, an unsecured load or an unbalanced load. Particularly for out-of-state drivers passing through the mountains who are unfamiliar with the territory, the likelihood of driver error is high.

If you've been hurt in a truck accident on a West Virginia highway, contact a lawyer today. You need sound legal advice to help you recover damages for your injuries or for the loss of a loved one. These types of accidents can be very traumatic and should not be handled alone. Even if a trucking company has offered you a settlement, you should have an attorney review the offer before you accept the terms to ensure that you're being adequately compensated.

The trucking industry is a necessary and important part of commerce in West Virginia. However, there are inherent dangers associated with the trucking industry and these dangers are ever so present in West Virginia. The shear size of a large truck increases the danger of damage in the event of a collision, especially a collision with a car or smaller vehicle. The mountainous terrain and periodic inclement weather in West Virginia increase the risk of a large truck or tractor trailer being involved in a collision and causing injuries and damages.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a bus or large truck, there is hope. Congress recognized the inherent dangers of the trucking industry and in 2000 established the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which focuses on reducing collisions, injuries and damages involving large trucks and buses in the United States. Trucking companies and their drivers are required to follow regulations created by FMCSA.

Often times, in the aftermath of a collision involving a large truck, it comes to light that the trucking company or the truck driver disobeyed one or more of the FMCSA regulations. Proving this disobedience is one of the major hurdles to overcome when bringing a suit against a truck driver or trucking company.

If you have suffered an injury through no fault of you own, but rather from a collision with a large truck, that truck driver and his employer should be liable for your damages, right? Unfortunately, it's not always that simple. The trucking industry is no stranger to the courtroom and you can guarantee that they have experienced attorneys on their side. Trucking companies are constantly battling lawsuits because of the immense damages that result from collisions with large trucks. They will do what they can to conceal any wrongdoing on there part and absolve them of any liability. Therefore, it is essential to know what kind of information is needed to build a strong case and what avenues you can take to recover the compensation you deserve.

If you have suffered a loss due to a collision involving a large truck, you should contact a personal injury attorney that has experience with the commercial trucking industry and the FMCSA regulations. These regulations and the trucking industry in general are complex and an experienced attorney can help guide you down the difficult road to recovery.