Truck Accident Lawyer in Washington DC
Decades of Experience Helping Crash Victims
Were you or someone in your family injured in a Washington DC truck accident?
If another party caused a crash that harmed you or a family member, you
may be eligible to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income,
pain and suffering, and more.
At Wisner Baum, we have decades of experience and a track record of success
in helping accident victims recover compensation after preventable truck
crashes. Whether you were severely injured or
lost a family member, we will fight for full and fair compensation. Since opening our doors
in 1973, our team of lawyers has won
more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across a broad range of practice areas.
Put your trust in our experienced trial team. Contact us online
to book a free consultation with a Washington DC truck accident lawyer.
How to Prove Negligence in a Truck Accident Claim
Truck crashes are often devastating for victims. The sheer size and weight
of commercial trucks make them particularly destructive when they collide
with passenger vehicles, bicyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians. According
to data from the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), when semi-trucks and passenger vehicles collide in two-vehicle
accidents, 97% of the fatalities are occupants of the passenger vehicle.
After being
injured in a truck crash, victims may wonder what their legal rights are. If they are to move forward
with a claim, they will need to prove that the other party (a truck driver,
for example) was negligent. This is where retaining an experienced truck
accident lawyer comes into play. The DC accident lawyers at Wisner Baum
know what it takes to investigate the causes of truck crashes and build
the strongest possible case for clients.
Common Causes of DC Truck Accidents: Who Is Liable?
The most common causes of truck accidents in Washington DC include:
Trucking companies may also put impossible and unsafe expectations on their
drivers and cargo loaders, which can lead to a host of mistakes on the job.
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Hauling oversized or unbalanced cargo loads: Sometimes, a cargo loader may pack a truck’s cargo poorly, such
as by failing to secure or balance it. This can cause the weight to shift
around in transit, and as a result, the truck can easily capsize or run away.
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Defective truck parts: Brake failure, tire issues, or steering component problems can also lead to a truck
crash. If the truck malfunctioned despite the trucker’s careful
driving, a faulty truck part was likely to blame.
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Trucks in poor maintenance: There are cases in which a truck simply breaks down because it is in poor
condition. Even the best tires become susceptible to blowout when they
are old and used.
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Lack of training: This simply means that the trucking company failed to hire properly trained
truck drivers, cargo loaders, or mechanics. It may also mean it hired
these employees with plans to train them, but then did not follow through
on those plans.
Who is Liable for a Truck Crash?
A truck accident lawyer will investigate the circumstances that led to
the crash to determine liability. In some cases, more than one party may
have caused or contributed to the accident, which makes a thorough investigation
vital to building a strong case and maximizing compensation.
Wisner Baumhas found that the negligent party tends to be one or more of the following:
- Trucking company
- Truck driver or other employees of a truck company
- Truck parts manufacturer, designer, or distributor
- Truck broker
No matter the circumstances, our law firm will exhaustively investigate
the case to identify all responsible parties.
How Much is My Case Worth?
It is unethical for an accident lawyer to make any promises as to how much
compensation you can expect to receive by pursuing a lawsuit. At Wisner
Baum, we will always be honest and forthright when it comes to pursuing
justice and financial compensation on your behalf. From our initial consultation
onward, we will give you straight talk on the variables and determining
factors that go into the compensation you might receive.
What Should I Do After an Accident with a Truck?
- Call 911 and make a police report.
- Seek medical care as soon as possible. If needed, make sure to return to
the doctor for follow-up care.
- Collect any evidence from the accident scene. If you cannot do this, ask
someone to do it for you.
- Obtain a copy of the police report.
- Keep all bills and documents pertaining to your injury.
- Do not tell the insurance company anything other than the facts of the accident.
- Don’t post on social media about the accident or your case.
- Work with an experienced truck accident lawyer, or at least consult one
about your case.
Keep in mind that insurance companies will often offer settlements immediately
following an accident. They may even say this is the “best offer”
they can make, believing you may need the money to pay bills. We highly
advise victims to talk with a lawyer before accepting an insurance settlement
after a truck crash. A study from the Insurance Research Council found
that the average person receives a settlement 3.5-times larger when they
retain a lawyer to represent their interests. Let us fight for maximum
compensation on your behalf so you can focus on regaining your health.
Should I Hire an Accident Lawyer Near Me?
First, accident victims are not legally required to hire legal representation.
They have the option to try and navigate the claims process and litigation
on their own. But truck accident claims are often highly complex. An attorney
can save you from making common mistakes, strengthen your case, and minimize
any potential weak points.
If you choose to work with an attorney, the next question people often
ask is whether to hire someone local. Hiring a local attorney makes sense
for a lot of people—they want to be able to put in face time with
their legal advocate if the need arises. At Wisner Baum, we offer the
benefits of a local firm with our DC satellite office located near Washington
Circle backed by the resources of a nationwide firm—the best of
both worlds. Plus, six of our lawyers are admitted to practice in Washington, D.C.
Many truck crash victims turn to Wisner Baumbecause:
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We are experienced in truck accident law: Our firm has almost half a century of experience in taking on truck accident
cases—and winning them.
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We take a trial-ready approach: While it may be true that most truck accident lawsuits are settled out
of court, we prepare every case as if it is going to trial to give your
case the best chance for a successful outcome.
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Peers and clients respect us: We are proud to be respected by our distinguished peers. We are even prouder
to receiveglowing testimonials from our clients.
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Our track record is one of success: We have won numerous groundbreaking, record-setting verdicts and settlements
for our clients. For instance, we took on a truck accident case against
Tyson Foods, in which we fought to win justice for an Ohio couple bereaved
of their son. We resolved that case with the highest verdict in Ohio history
to ever be won for the death of an unmarried adult. This is just one of
our many multimillion-dollar results.
Learn more here.
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We exclusively fight on the plaintiff’s side: You will never find our DC truck accident lawyers fighting on the side
of a negligent party. We exclusively represent those injured because we
believe negligent parties must be held accountable when they endanger
public safety. There is no excuse for prioritizing profit over human lives.
Our board-certified trial lawyers have won over $4 billion for those injured
across the nation across areas of our practice. We stand ready to take
on your case, strengthening it with our decades of experience and award-winning
advocacy. Our firm only gets paid if we win, and there are no upfront
fees for our legal services.
Call (855) 948-5098 to speak with a Washington DC truck accident attorney
in a free consultation.
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