Greenwich, CT
Truck Accident Lawyer
A truck accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. Commercial trucks are among the largest and heaviest vehicles on the road, and when a negligent driver or trucking company causes a crash, the injuries that follow are often severe and long-lasting. If you were hurt in a truck accident in or around Greenwich, CT, you have legal options, and the right legal team can make a real difference in what you recover.
At Mandelbaum Barrett PC, our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing accident victims in Connecticut and throughout the tri-state area. Our Greenwich truck accident attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients who suffered serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence, and we are ready to fight on your behalf.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents
Crashes involving commercial trucks are not the same as typical car accidents, and the law treats them differently, too. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, compared to roughly 3,000 to 4,000 pounds for a passenger car. That size difference means the people in the smaller vehicle almost always absorb the worst of the impact.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2022, there were approximately 114,000 injury crashes involving large trucks in the United States in 2022, which shows just how serious a public safety issue this remains. Beyond sheer size, truck accident cases also tend to involve more parties and more complex liability than standard car crashes.
The truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, a vehicle manufacturer, or even a maintenance contractor could all share responsibility for what happened. Identifying every liable party is one of the most important steps in building a strong claim.
Federal and State Regulations That Apply
Trucking companies and their drivers are subject to both federal and Connecticut state rules designed to reduce the risk of accidents. These rules govern how long drivers can operate before taking a required rest break, how cargo must be secured, and how vehicles must be maintained and inspected. When a trucking company pushes drivers to meet unrealistic delivery schedules, skips required inspections, or fails to properly screen drivers, it may be held liable if an accident results. Our attorneys know how to investigate these regulatory failures and use them to establish liability in your claim.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Greenwich
Greenwich sits along the I-95 corridor, one of the busiest freight routes in the country. Heavy truck traffic is a daily reality for drivers in this area, and it brings real risks. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents we see include driver fatigue, distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, improper lane changes, unsecured or overloaded cargo, and mechanical failures such as brake or tire defects. Any one of these factors, or a combination of them, can result in a crash that leaves victims with injuries they may spend years recovering from.
What Injuries Are Common in Truck Accidents?
The injuries sustained in truck accidents are often among the most serious a person can experience. Because of the force involved in these collisions, victims frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, severe lacerations, and burns. Many of these injuries require long-term or permanent medical care, and some result in lasting disability.
One notable result our firm achieved was a $5,850,000 recovery for a young woman who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury after a tractor-trailer ran a red light while exiting I-95 South and broadsided the vehicle she was riding in. Cases like this reflect our commitment to fighting for full compensation, not quick settlements that fall short of what our clients truly need.
Understanding the Damages You May Recover
Connecticut law allows truck accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and the cost of ongoing rehabilitation. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability and impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life that result from a serious injury. In cases involving especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence standard. If you are found to be partially at fault, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover at all. This makes it essential to work with an attorney who can build a well-documented case that accurately reflects how the accident happened and who was responsible. In the most severe cases, including those involving fatal crashes, families may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim under Connecticut law.
The Importance of Acting Quickly After a Truck Accident
Time matters in truck accident cases, and not just because of the legal deadline. Connecticut’s statute of limitations gives most accident victims two years from the date of injury to file a claim. If you miss that deadline, you may lose your right to pursue compensation entirely.
Beyond the statute of limitations, acting quickly preserves evidence that may otherwise disappear. Electronic logging device data, dashcam footage, trucking company inspection records, and driver qualification files are all subject to destruction or overwriting if not preserved promptly.
Our team moves fast to gather and secure this evidence, and we can send a legal hold letter to the trucking company to prevent them from destroying records that may be critical to your case. Clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries in truck accidents, especially, cannot afford to wait, as the costs of long-term care make a full and timely recovery more important than ever.
Contact Mandelbaum Barrett PC for a Free Consultation
When your injuries are serious, choosing the right legal team makes a real difference. Attorney Michael J. Jones brings decades of experience handling personal injury claims throughout Connecticut and is ready to fight for you. Our Greenwich office serves clients throughout Fairfield County and the surrounding region, and we bring the resources of a large, established firm to every case we take on. We handle all truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you.
If you were injured in a truck accident in Greenwich or anywhere in Connecticut, do not wait to get legal help. Our attorneys are ready to investigate your case, identify all liable parties, and pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward recovery.
