Portsmouth, Virginia offers amazing access to transportation from shipping to railway to interstates, making it a hub for many supply chains. Tractor-trailers drop off goods here, which then ship across the sea. Commercial trucks are vital to our local economy, but they pose a safety risk. Truck accidents are on the rise despite more stringent laws and regulations, and a collision with a tractor-trailer or other large truck often results in catastrophically serious injuries.
Personal injury cases resulting from a tractor-trailer collision often involve trauma and mounting medical bills. It gets worse when insurance companies try to get out of paying claims, offering meager payouts, or even outright denying payment. If you or anyone in your family has been severely injured in a truck accident in Portsmouth, the attorneys at Montagna Law are ready to help.
Let us work on recovering compensation while you work on recovering from your injuries.
Why Work With Montagna Law’s Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers
Montagna Law offers you a genuinely equitable opportunity to secure full and significant compensation for the injuries you have suffered. We bring over 50 years of experience to the table and put our clients first. We will maintain a continuous line of open communication and a caring, compassionate ear when you need one. Furthermore, you pay us nothing if you do not win your case.
Let us fight the bullying insurance companies. Let us take on the battle for compensation so you can focus on the fight to get well again.
Types of Portsmouth Semi-Truck Accidents We Handle
- Jackknifing accidents
- Roll-over accidents
- Wide turn accidents
- Head-on accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Blind spot accidents
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in Portsmouth, VA?
Virginia’s statute of limitations for a truck accident is two years. This means you must file your lawsuit within two years of the accident or within two years of the date of death in the case of a wrongful death suit.
Who Can Be Held Liable For a Semi-Truck Accident?
It may be possible to hold several different people liable for a truck accident.
- Truck Driver: Truck drivers must drive safely and follow traffic laws and trucking regulations. If they fail to do any of these, such as if they are fatigued due to driving too long, they could be liable for damages resulting from an accident.
- Trucking Company: While some drivers own their semi-trucks, many are employees of trucking companies. Those companies could be liable for failing to inspect or maintain a truck or for requiring a driver to drive excess hours.
- Cargo Loaders: A cargo loader could be liable if they failed to secure the cargo properly, inspect the cargo, or disclose the presence of hazardous materials.
Types of Compensation Can You Collect After a Portsmouth Truck Accident?
There are two categories of damages in a truck accident. These are economic or special damages and non-economic or general damages.
Economic damages, also called special damages, are those that are easy to value. They include the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Potential future compensation you now will not earn
Non-economic damages:
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of ability to enjoy life
- Other invisible injuries that can be harder to value
Your Portsmouth personal injury attorney can help you to put a value on these injuries.
Common Injuries Associated With Trucking Accidents in Portsmouth?
If you are in a truck accident, it is vital to seek medical attention right away. It also demonstrates that you took the accident seriously from the start, which can be crucial in pursuing your Virginia truck accident case. Some of the most common injuries Portsmouth truck accident lawyers see include:
- Fractures
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Wrongful death
Client Results
The Portsmouth truck accident lawyers at Montagna Law have obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for victims of truck crashes. We will fight to obtain the compensation that you deserve in your truck accident case.
- $900,000 for our client after being hit by a tractor-trailer.
- $625,000 after a truck hit the driver’s side of our client’s vehicle.
- $450,000 after a tractor-trailer rear-ended our client’s car, pushing it into the vehicle in front of them.
Client Testimonials
“My experience from beginning to end was extremely smooth. From the sweet voice of Grace to the firm handshake from John, all made me feel secure in knowing that I made the best choice of hiring Montagna Law to represent me. You will not regret their service.” – Constance H.
“They really came through for me They represented me well and we had a positive result. Incredible firm with fantastic legal aids thank you so much, Katy!” – Wessie P.
“If you’re looking for someone who’s professional, attentive, serious, caring, and negotiable than Mr. Montagna is who you need. He understood his assignment and delivered well especially being with what I was looking at in my case. I want to again thank Mr. Montagna for being there for me. Will definitely be spreading his name around.” – Tiara S.
Stop a Truck Accident From Wrecking Your Life
The truck accident attorneys at Montagna Law have represented many people just like you from all over Hampton Roads, including Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Suffolk, Newport News, and, of course, Portsmouth. Portsmouth truck accident victims can suffer serious, life-altering injuries or even death.
If you are involved in a truck accident, you want an attorney who has a proven history of achieving abundant compensation for their clients. Contact our law offices via our easy online form or call 757-622-8100 to schedule your case review with our legal team today. When you contact us, there is no obligation and no disclaimer; rather, you will speak to a truck accident lawyer who is eager to help you hold the responsible parties accountable and get you the compensation you deserve in your accident claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What To Do After a Truck Accident in Portsmouth?
After a truck accident, you should:
- Call emergency medical services.
- File a police report.
- Gather evidence.
- Contact an attorney.
- Contact your insurance carrier.
How Long Does a Portsmouth Truck Accident Case Take?
The amount of time needed to resolve a truck accident claim will depend on each case’s circumstances. A case without catastrophic injuries might not take very long. If the injuries are severe, or multiple parties could be at fault for the accident, the legal process could take much longer.
What Are Some Common Causes of Truck Accident Cases in Portsmouth, Virginia?
Many different factors can play into a Portsmouth truck accident. Some of the most common include:
- Reckless driving;
- Excess traffic;
- Road hazards;
- Inadequate maintenance;
- Weather conditions;
- Poor cargo loading; and
- Unrealistic time constraints.
Many of these can involve multiple responsible parties besides truck drivers, which complicates pursuing these types of personal injury cases. Your personal injury lawyer can offer legal advice to help you determine who is responsible for the accident that caused your injury.
What To Do If an Insurance Adjuster Gives a Low Offer?
Insurance adjusters are not your friends. The trucking industry has deep pockets, but that means that they can afford people who are skilled at finding ways to avoid paying damages.
An adjuster’s first offer is likely to be too low to cover the full extent of your damages. You may want to hire an attorney to advocate for you with the adjuster.
How Can I Prove the Negligence of the Truck Driver?
To prove negligence, you must prove four elements:
- The defendant owed a duty of care, such as a truck driver’s duty to obey traffic laws.
- They breached that duty.
- Their breach directly caused the truck accident.
- You suffered damages because of the accident.
What Are Virginia’s Negligence Laws?
Virginia follows the “contributory negligence” rule. The other party must be 100% at fault. If you share any of the fault for the accident, contributory negligence states that you may not recover damages. This is where skilled legal representation is essential.
