Did you get hurt in a truck accident in Middletown, Connecticut? Are you missing time at work due to your injuries and drowning in unexpected medical bills? If so, you might feel overwhelmed and worried about the future. But there is hope. By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek money for your injuries and related losses. However, securing full compensation is no easy task.
That's where The Flood Law Firm can help. Our Middletown truck accident lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of truck accident cases, and we know the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying for valid claims. We're here to stand up for your rights and fight aggressively to get the compensation you deserve. So don't deal with a truck accident on your own. Call us today for your free initial case review, and let us help you get your life back on track.
- Why Choose The Flood Law Firm?
- Compensation for Truck Accident Cases
- Middletown Truck Accident Facts and Statistics
- Types of Truck Accidents and Truck Accident Injuries
- Filing an Insurance Claim After a Truck Accident
- What to Do if You Get Hurt in a Truck Accident
- Truck Accident FAQs
- Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Middletown Today
Why Choose The Flood Law Firm?
When you sustain injuries in a Middletown truck accident, you need a legal team you can count on. You need The Flood Law Firm.
Here at The Flood Law Firm, our talented injury lawyers have years of experience in personal injury law. We have handled many truck accident cases and secured multi-million dollar settlements and trial verdicts for our clients. When you work with us, you can rest assured that we have the knowledge and resources to tackle your case, no matter how complex or unusual.
From the moment you hire us to handle your claim, you'll find that we provide personalized attention every step of the way. We take the time to get to know you and your unique situation, so we can hone in on your goals and develop our strategy accordingly. We know that recovering from a truck accident is often a long and difficult process. You deserve an attorney who handles all the legal details while you focus on recuperating.
Other lawyers often turn to our firm for help with particularly challenging cases, since they know we have the skills and resources to handle even the most complex injury claims. Criminal defense lawyers and those in other practices also reach out to us when an injury case comes their way. We are proud to assist with these cases and seek fair compensation for injured truck accident victims.
When you’re ready to speak with us about your Middletown truck accident case, don’t hesitate to reach out. There’s no charge for your initial consultation session and zero obligation to move forward. Best of all, you don’t have to pay any money upfront for us to start work on your case, and we won’t charge you at all unless we secure compensation for you.
We have a convenient office location on Washington Street in Middletown, right near Wesleyan University, so feel free to come and see us in person at your convenience. If you can't come to us, we are happy to come to you or speak with you virtually or over the phone whenever you need our help. Call (860) 346-2695 now.
Compensation for Truck Accident Cases
No two truck accidents are the same, and the value of every truck accident injury case is different, too. The amount of compensation available varies based on who is at fault for the truck accident, the types of insurance policies that apply, and numerous other factors. The amount you get for your unique injury claim will also depend on factors like the severity of your crash injuries, whether the injuries affect your ability to work, and how the accident has affected your quality of life.
When you file a truck accident injury claim with the help of an attorney, you can seek compensation for:
- Past and present medical bills you incur due to the accident
- Medical bills you will likely incur in the future due to the accident
- Incidental costs, such as out-of-pocket expenses for medical travel
- Lost wages from any time you miss work after the accident
- Losses in your lifetime earning capacity due to permanent injuries
- Subjective losses, like pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life
- Repair or replacement costs for vehicle damage or a total loss
Middletown Truck Accident Facts and Statistics
Middletown is far from immune from truck accidents. In fact, because Middletown is such a central location in Connecticut, truck accidents are a frequent local occurrence.
Several busy highways, such as I-91 and Route 9, run through Middletown, making it a major hub for commercial traffic. More trucks on the road mean a higher risk for truck accidents, especially during harsh Connecticut winters that bring snow, ice, and other hazardous conditions.
Let’s review some statistics from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository (CTCDR) that illustrate just how common and dangerous truck accidents are in Middletown:
- In a recent three-year period, there were 3,780 traffic accidents throughout Middletown.
- As a result of those 3,780 Middletown traffic accidents, there were hundreds of reported injuries and eight deaths.
- During those three years, 7,162 vehicles crashed in Middletown, 302 (4.2 percent) of which were medium to heavy trucks or cargo vans
- No specific data exists for Middletown truck accident injury or fatality rates, but truck accidents often result in disproportionately high injury and death numbers.
Many truck accidents cause debilitating injuries and extensive property damage, so victims often take legal action to recover compensation for their losses.
If you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit after a Middletown truck accident, our lawyers will know how these local laws and regulations might apply to your situation:
- Connecticut’s state trucking regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the trucking industry at the federal level, but Connecticut has its own statewide procedures and regulations for commercial trucks and drivers. For instance, there is no federal limit on truck height, but Connecticut prohibits trucks taller than 13 feet, six inches on state roads.
- Connecticut’s comparative negligence doctrine. Like many states, Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine, which gives you the right to sue someone else even if you are partially at fault for the crash. However, the amount of money you can claim decreases based on your percentage of fault, and you lose your right to sue if you are more than 50 percent at fault.
- Connecticut's statute of limitations. Connecticut’s statute of limitations law gives you two years from an injury accident to file a lawsuit against another party. You lose your right to sue after the two-year deadline passes, so work with a reliable lawyer who can keep your case on track.
Types of Truck Accidents and Truck Accident Injuries
Here are some examples of the most common types of truck accidents we see in the cases we handle at The Flood Law Firm:
- Head-on truck collisions. A head-on truck accident occurs when a truck and another vehicle traveling in opposite directions collide front-first. These collisions can happen due to truck driver distraction, intoxication, fatigue, or failure to maintain a single lane.
- Sideswipe truck crashes. A sideswipe truck accident happens when a truck's long sideswipes against another vehicle's side, moving in a parallel direction. Truck drivers sometimes cause sideswipe accidents when they focus on distractions, change lanes without signaling, or fail to monitor their blind spots.
- T-bone truck accidents. A T-bone truck accident occurs when the front end of a truck collides with the broad side of another vehicle. Many T- bone truck accidents happen when truckers run red lights or stop signs or fail to yield the right of way at intersections.
- Rear-end truck collisions. A rear-end truck accident happens when a truck's front end runs into another vehicle's back end. Rear-end truck crashes, which are incredibly common, often occur when truck drivers follow too closely, drive too fast for present conditions, or ignore the road.
- Cargo spill truck accidents. A cargo spill accident occurs when cargo bursts out of or falls off a truck and spills onto the road, sometimes causing vehicle damage and secondary accidents. Drivers may contribute to cargo spill wrecks if they exceed their trucks’ weight limits or fail to secure cargo before driving.
- Jackknife truck accidents. A jackknife truck accident happens when a truck’s trailer swings too far to one side and overtakes the cab, folding in like a closing jackknife. These devastating accidents commonly occur when truck drivers oversteer, brake too suddenly, or drive too fast on curves or downward slopes.
The average truck is several times larger and much heavier than the average passenger vehicle, and that’s before it’s full of tons of cargo.
When a large commercial truck hits a smaller vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle often sustain severe injuries like:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Abdominal and internal injuries
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Amputation and loss of limb
- Bruises, lacerations, and puncture wounds
- Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
- “Road rash” and other burn injuries
- Emotional and psychological injuries
- Fatal injuries and wrongful death
Filing an Insurance Claim After a Truck Accident
Several reasons make truck accident insurance claims much more complex than other accident injury claims. Truck accidents are more likely to result in severe injuries, so claim values are higher and more likely to cause disputes. Additionally, truck accident cases typically involve multiple liable parties, so it's often difficult to determine who pays.
Filing an insurance claim after a truck accident is extremely challenging without the help of an attorney. Insurance companies usually have teams of experienced adjusters and their own corporate lawyers who work to minimize payments to accident victims. These parties might argue that you were partially or totally at fault for the accident or that your injuries aren't as bad as you claim. You risk walking away with far less money than you deserve if you do it yourself.
This is where a truck accident lawyer comes in handy. At The Flood Law Firm, our seasoned attorneys have considerable experience handling truck accident cases like yours, and we know how to manage insurance companies that don't play fair. Let us do the work and keep the pressure on the trucking insurance company while you get back on your feet.
What to Do if You Get Hurt in a Truck Accident
Always make your health your priority after a truck accident.
After you go to the doctor so a professional can diagnose, treat, and document your injuries, you can take the following additional steps to protect your legal rights:
- Follow your doctor’s care plan and attend follow-up appointments as necessary.
- Document the details of your recovery and daily pain levels in a pain journal.
- Gather evidence from the accident, such as photos and eyewitness statements.
- Keep copies of your medical records, bills, and documentation of wage losses.
- Watch what you say to the driver, trucking companies, and insurance companies.
- Avoid posting updates or photos on social media while your claim is pending.
- Discuss your case with a truck accident lawyer before speaking to anyone else.
Truck Accident FAQs
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, see the FAQs below to learn more about what to expect from the legal process:
Who Will Pay for My Truck Accident Injuries?
Depending on the circumstances, you could hold these parties liable for your truck accident injuries:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- A cargo loading team
- A truck manufacturer
- A truck repair shop
- A truck mechanic
- A government entity
How Do You Prove a Truck Accident Case?
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they can work to prove your truck accident case by gathering and presenting:
- Photos and video footage
- Police accident reports
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert witness testimony
- Truck driver cell phone data
- Truck driver GPS records
- Truck driver hours of service logs
- Truck maintenance records
- Truck black box data
- Trucking company records
- Cargo manifests or bills of lading
How Long Will It Take to Settle My Claim?
It depends. If your claim is relatively simple and you have plenty of evidence, you could settle within a matter of weeks. It could take months or longer if you have a more complex, expensive, or disputable claim. A knowledgeable attorney can provide a realistic timeline and handle your case as efficiently as possible.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Middletown Today
Don’t wait any longer to get the help you need. Contact The Flood Law Firm, and let us fight for justice on your behalf. Our compassionate and attentive team is ready to help, so call us at (860) 346-2695 or contact us online now to get started with your free initial consultation session.
THE FLOOD LAW FIRM - MIDDLETOWN OFFICE
190 Washington St
Middletown, CT 06457
P: 860-346-2695