Woonsocket Truck Accident Lawyer
Our Woonsocket truck accident lawyers know how devastating big rig accidents can be for everyone involved. Regardless of whether the vehicles in the collision are cars, SUVs, or even other semi-trucks, these accidents frequently cause severe injuries, such as damage to the brain and spinal cord.
Jury verdict for a client whose lifelong disabilities were caused by medical negligence.
Awarded to a client who sustained serious injuries in a rollover crash caused by a distracted driver.
Recovered for the estate of a woman who passed as a result of surgical negligence.
- Published date:
- December 15, 2022
- Updated date:
- February 13, 2023
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Trucks are some of the largest vehicles on the road, with some weighing up to 35,000 pounds. Accordingly, accidents involving a collision between vehicles and trucks can cause life-altering injuries and complications, most often suffered by those in vehicles. These injuries often include broken bones, paralysis, disfigurement, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depending on the severity of your condition(s), you may not be able to return to work. You may also be unable to return to your pre-accident lifestyle and quality of life.
Fortunately, Marasco & Nesselbush LLP’s experienced Woonsocket personal injury lawyers are here to help. Aggressive, dedicated, and well-connected, our truck lawyers will analyze your case and provide the advocacy you deserve. We serve truck accident victims in the following Rhode Island cities: Woonsocket, Warwick, Providence, and Wakefield.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Woonsocket?
The number of truck and semi-truck accidents in Woonsocket has been decreasing. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Rhode Island had only seven truck accidents in the first quarter of 2022, a 50 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2021.
However, the NHTSA has revealed that the increasing trend of fatal accidents in 2020 has continued into the first quarter of 2022, a number that includes life-altering truck accidents.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Woonsocket?
Commercial truck accidents in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, are mostly caused by error on the part of the passenger vehicle driver or the truck driver, or equipment failure.
Examples of mistakes made by passenger vehicle drivers include:
- Failing to change speed when changing or merging lanes
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drowsy driving
- Trying to pass a large truck without ensuring that there is enough distance between the vehicles
- Changing lanes in front of a commercial truck
- Trying to pass a large truck and being pushed toward the truck by the turbulence
- Attempting to make a left-hand turn without sufficient distance or speed to complete the turn as a truck approaches
Meanwhile, accidents caused by trucker error are usually caused by factors such as:
- Trucker inexperience
- Improper or incomplete supervision or training by the employer
- Overwork and burnout
- Driving unsafely in poor weather conditions such as fog, rain, sleet, or snow
- Driving too fast or too slow in road construction areas
Equipment failure happens when trucks’ intricate parts fail to function properly. Common examples include:
- Faulty or worn-out brakes
- Defective truck parts
- Defective cargo straps
- Worn-out tires
- Improper truck maintenance
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What Types of Truck Accidents Can Occur?
Trucks can cause a wide range of accidents, that often involve collisions with passenger vehicles, including:
Rollover Accidents
A rollover happens when a trucker loses control of their vehicle, which can often happen if the truckers makes a sharp turn to avoid a collision, forcing the truck into a dangerous slide that results in the truck rolling onto its side. . Rollovers are not only dangerous for the trucker but can be extremely dangerous for vehicles that are passing or next to the truck when the rollover occurs. They commonly occur due to:
- Speeding
- Turning too sharply or quickly
- Tripping over an object, such as uneven pavement, curbs, or guardrails
- Driving up curbs too quickly
- Hitting another object on the road
Wide Turn Accidents
Wide turn or “squeeze play” accidents happen when a trucker swings left to make a right turn and fails to pay attention to the vehicles behind them and to their right.
In wide turn accident scenarios, drivers behind the truck think that the truck is merging into the left lane and that it is safe to pass the truck on the right. Since the truck is actually turning, the driver will get “squeezed” or trapped between the truck’s front and back.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents happen when a truck folds in half, forming a “V” with the trailer and the cab. Often, a jackknifing truck will hit other vehicles and block traffic. Jackknifing may also cause rolls or overturns, leading to cargo spills, explosions, fires, and serious injuries for the trucker and other drivers.
The main causes of jackknifing are:
- Negligent braking
- Negligent operation of the truck caused by fatigue, distraction, or drug and alcohol impairment
- Equipment failure
- Poor road and weather conditions
- Speeding
What Injuries Are Common in Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can cause an array of injuries, including:
- Catastrophic injuries affecting the brain, spinal cord, or spine
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputations
- Disfigurement
- Dislocated, broken, and fractured bones
- Severe burns and lacerations
- Severe back and neck injuries
- Internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding
- Whiplash
Truck accident injuries can be incredibly damaging and even fatal. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a truck accident, you must immediately get medical help, even if your injuries don’t seem severe. Truck collision injuries may take days or weeks to manifest.
After reaching out to medical professionals, contact Marasco & Nesselbush LLP’s skilled catastrophic injury lawyers and truck accident attorneys to learn about your next steps. We will carefully examine your case and consult our experts if needed to help you recover the highest possible settlement or award for your losses.
Where Do Most Truck Accidents Happen in Woonsocket?
Most Woonsocket truck accidents happen on interstate highways and intersections. Some of the most dangerous in the Woonsocket and Providence area include:
Interstate 95 and Exit 42 in Pawtucket, RI
Interstate 95 and Exit 35 in Providence, RI
RI 2 Reservoir Avenue and RI 12 in Cranston, RI
What Damages Are Available to Victims of Truck Accidents?
You can receive three types of damages for a truck accident case: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are objectively verifiable losses like:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Loss of current, past, and future earnings
- Cost of automobile replacement or repair
- Loss of use of property
- Loss of business and employment opportunities
- Legal fees
Non-Economic Damages
In contrast, non-economic or general damages aren’t easily quantified because they are meant to compensate you for the emotional or physical suffering caused by the truck accident.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Emotional and physical pain, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages punish the at-fault party for their carelessness or misconduct. Courts are generally reluctant to award them unless the at-fault party’s conduct is egregious.
If you want to know what kind of damages to claim, reach out to a Woonsocket truck accident attorney for help with your claim.
What Happens if I Am Partly At Fault for a Truck Accident in Woonsocket?
You can still recover damages if you are partially at fault for a truck accident in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Rhode Island follows a pure comparative negligence law to allocate fault between different parties in truck accident disputes.
Accordingly, if you were 30 percent at fault and the other driver was 70 percent at fault, you would recover your total damages minus 30 percent, resulting in 70 percent of your total damages.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Woonsocket?
In Rhode Island, you have up to three years after the accident date to file a truck accident lawsuit against the at-fault party. After this timeframe expires, you will lose the right to file a case for your accident. That’s why it’s vital to contact a suitable truck accident law firm as soon as possible.
Trusted Woonsocket Truck Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
If you’ve been injured in an accident with a semi-truck, or other commercial truck in Woonsocket, Marasco & Nesselbush’s experienced personal injury lawyers can represent you.
Our Woonsocket truck accident lawyers will stay on top of your case, guide you through the lawsuit process step by step, and handle communications so you can focus on recovering and getting your life back together.
Contact our law firm today for a free evaluation of your case.
DO I HAVE A CASE?
If you think you may have a truck accident case, contact us now for a FREE consultation
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