Nashua Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck Accident Lawyer Nashua, NH
Whether you were driving a truck or were struck by one, you can get legal help from a Nashua, NH truck accident lawyer if you were recently in an accident. Truck accident injuries can be horrific because of the force and scale of the accident. Trucks are large vehicles and often carry an enormous amount of cargo, so when a collision happens, there tends to be much damage. Truck accident cases tend to be more difficult to handle than car and motorcycle accidents because they can involve more liable parties as well, so it is advised that you consult with a lawyer. Getting fair compensation can be tough, but you can count on a lawyer from Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. to give you the legal advice you deserve.
Causes of Truck Accidents
As a Nashua truck accident lawyer who handles truck accidents can elaborate on, there are many causes of truck accidents. Once a truck accident happens, there is little that the driver or victim can do to stop. Unfortunately, a large amount of truck accidents are preventable and are usually the result of a person’s negligent actions. Common causes of accidents that often appear in many cases include:
- Excessive speed
- Reckless driving
- Lack of truck maintenance
- Defective parts
- Lack of truck driving experience
- Obstacles on the road
- Spilled or unsecure cargo
- Dangerous driving during poor weather conditions
Why Truck Accidents Are More Complex
In many cases, truck accidents are much more complex than car accidents not just because of the destruction and financial losses caused, but because there are many parties that can be sued. In addition to truck drivers, carriers or trucking companies can be held liable if an accident were to occur. They may have acted negligently by employing drivers that did not have sufficient experience, or by not conducting a required inspection. When unnecessary shortcuts are taken, accidents can occur as a result. You can hire a lawyer so that they can investigate to see who acted negligently and what should have been done to avoid the accident.
When You May Want To Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
You may want to hire a lawyer if you have no idea where to begin regarding the claims process for filing a truck accident claim. These types of claims can be difficult to work on, so if you are confused or unsure of what to do, it is best to consult with a lawyer first. They can evaluate your case and discuss possible next steps that you can take so that you can protect your legal rights.
Legal Help Is Available
There is legal help available if you have been a victim of a tragic truck accident. You should not have to pay for the consequences for an accident that you did not cause. Your financial losses can be recovered if you hire a lawyer who has the right experience and qualifications to assist you with your case. To find out what your legal options are, do not wait to talk to a Nashua truck accident lawyer from Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. and set up a consultation with them right away.
Fatigued Truck Drivers
A Nashua, NH truck accident lawyer from Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. knows that one of the leading causes of truck accidents is driver fatigue. Many commercial truck drivers spend long hours on the road bringing cargo from point A to point B. Anyone who has ever gone on a road trip and spent hours on the road can attest to how driving on a highway, for hours on end, can drain your energy level. Imagine doing this day in and day out like a commercial truck driver.
When a person is sleep-deprived, it can be just as dangerous as getting behind the wheel intoxicated. Errors are made. Signs are missed. This can be even more dangerous if the driver is operating a massive tractor-trailer that requires skill and experience to operate.
If a person is injured in a truck accident and it is suspected the truck driver was fatigued, what are the steps that a truck accident lawyer can take to uncover that evidence and prove their case? The following are some of the key pieces of evidence that prove the truck driver’s sleep deprivation was a major factor in the crash.
Hours of Service Logs
There are stringent federal and state laws that all truck drivers and trucking companies must adhere to regarding how many hours in a row/how many days in a row a truck driver is allowed to be behind the wheel. In order to ensure that drivers are complying with these hours of service regulations, truck drivers are required to keep logs of how many hours they are behind the wheel, when they take breaks, stops, etc. Today, the majority of these logs are kept electronically. A Nashua truck accident lawyer can petition the truck company to turn over those logs and then use them as evidence to show that the truck driver was likely fatigued at the time of the crash.
Witness Testimony
If the truck driver made any stops before the accident, there may be witnesses that can testify as to the driver’s condition – i.e. purchasing coffee and commenting they are tired. There may also be witnesses that saw the driver on the road prior to the accident operating in a manner that indicated he or she was fatigued, such as nodding off while sitting at a red light or operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner.
Type of Accident
There are certain types of truck accidents that are often caused by similar factors. Two of the most common types of accidents caused by fatigued truck drivers are head-on collisions and sideswipe accidents. These crashes are often a result of a fatigued truck driver drifting into another vehicle’s lane.
Drug Tests
Following a truck accident, the truck driver’s blood should be tested for alcohol and/or drugs. If the truck driver has stimulants in the system, this is a strong indicator that they were trying to stay awake because of exhaustion and could be another key piece of evidence your Nashua truck accident lawyer from Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. can use.