Truck drivers play a vital role in our economy by transporting goods to and from New London County and across the country. However, the pressure to deliver cargo quickly can tempt businesses to overload trailers beyond legal weight limits. When truckers disregard weight restrictions, they put themselves and others in harm’s way.
You might qualify for financial compensation if an overloaded truck caused an accident that injured you. However, recovering a fair settlement or court award can be challenging in these cases. An overloaded/overweight truck accident lawyer in Norwich, CT, could help you get justice and compensation after a life-altering crash.
We’re Claggett, Sykes & Garza, and we’re here to right wrongs. Reach out to us today for a free consultation with our Norwich truck accident lawyer.
The Dangers of Overloaded Trucks
Commercial tractor-trailers already pose significant risks due to their large size, visibility restrictions, and limited maneuverability. When a truck is loaded beyond legal weight limits, these existing hazards are amplified.
Excess cargo weight can throw off the vehicle’s center of gravity, making rollovers or jackknife accidents more likely. Overloaded trucks also require more time to stop, and their slow speeds when driving uphill can lead to other drivers making risky passing maneuvers.
In addition, the strain of excessive loads raises the chance of catastrophic mechanical failures involving steering, brakes, axles, and tires. Deteriorated roads and bridges may crumble under the punishment of an overweight truck.
Any of these issues caused by overloading can lead to a crash that endangers the lives of the truck driver and everyone else on the road.
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Potentially Liable Parties in a Norwich Overloaded Truck Accident Case
When a truck is overloaded, responsibility may not rest solely with the truck driver. Other parties who contributed to the unsafe load could also be held legally accountable.
Potential defendants in an overloaded truck accident lawsuit may include:
- The trucking company that operates the vehicle
- An independent driver
- The company that loaded the cargo
- The owner of the trailer, if different from the trucking firm
- The logistics company that scheduled the delivery, if their timeline encouraged overloading
Our Norwich personal injury lawyer, who handles truck accidents, can evaluate your case and identify the parties who should be named in your personal injury claim.
Pursuing Financial Compensation After an Overloaded Truck Accident
If you suffered injuries in an overloaded truck accident in Norwich, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for your losses.
There are three categories of compensation your Norwich overloaded and overweight truck accident lawyer can help you pursue:
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to losses with exact dollar amounts attached, like medical expenses, lost income, and loss of future earning capacity. Your lawyer can pursue compensation for all treatment costs, both initial and ongoing. If your injuries prevent you from working, you may also seek lost wage reimbursement.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages aim to compensate you for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life. Though these losses are difficult to quantify, an experienced attorney will properly value these damages and fight for a fair settlement or jury verdict.
Punitive Damages
In cases involving gross negligence, like drunk driving, victims may also seek punitive damages as a punishment to deter the at-fault party and others from similar misconduct. These additional damages are only available in extreme cases.
An attorney from Claggett, Sykes & Garza can investigate your overloaded truck accident, build the strongest case possible, and fight for the financial recovery you deserve. With compassionate counsel by your side, you can focus on healing while holding the responsible parties accountable.
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Act Quickly to Protect Your Rights
In Connecticut, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit per Connecticut General Statutes §52-584. However, in some cases, victims must provide notice of their intentions within 90 days. This possibility highlights the importance of retaining an attorney as soon as possible after a collision.
Not only that but reaching out to our team soon after the incident gives your lawyer time to secure critical evidence while memories are fresh and physical evidence remains intact. An experienced lawyer can promptly identify negligent parties and obtain important records through subpoenas.
When an attorney convincingly demonstrates negligence and liability, defendants are more likely to offer fair compensation without requiring a lawsuit. Time is of the essence in these cases, so contact an experienced Norwich truck accident attorney right away.
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Free Consultation With a Norwich Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accident Lawyer
Trucking companies waste no time in dispatching their own representatives and investigators after a collision. Their goal is, of course, to absolve themselves of blame and avoid paying out. In order to stand up against the formidable resources of the trucking industry, injured victims need aggressive advocacy on their side.
The sooner you retain a qualified Norwich truck accident lawyer, the sooner your attorney can gather and preserve key evidence and start building a compelling case on your behalf.
