A commercial truck accident can change your family’s life forever. The sheer size of these vehicles, combined with longer stopping distances and larger blind spots, makes these crashes particularly deadly for occupants of smaller passenger cars.
If you lost a loved one in a Roanoke truck accident, you may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims allow you to hold the at-fault party or parties accountable and recover the financial resources that your family needs during this difficult time. An experienced Roanoke wrongful death lawyer can fight for justice on your family’s behalf.
Who Is Liable for a Fatal Truck Accident in Virginia?
Multiple parties often share responsibility in truck accidents, making these cases more complex than typical car accident claims. Depending on the cause of your loved one’s accident, you could name the following parties in your wrongful death lawsuit:
- The Truck Driver: A driver who operates recklessly, violates hours-of-service regulations, or drives under the influence bears direct responsibility for the resulting accident.
- The Trucking Company: These companies must ensure proper driver training, vehicle maintenance, and compliance with federal safety regulations. If they fail to do so, they are liable for any accidents that occur as a result.
- Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers: Defective truck components or systems can contribute to fatal accidents. In these situations, the manufacturers are legally responsible for the consequences.
- Maintenance Providers: Companies responsible for truck maintenance and repairs can be held liable if poor service contributes to a fatal accident.
Compensation Available in Truck Accident Wrongful Death Claims
While no amount of money can ever replace your loved one, a wrongful death claim can provide critical financial support and a measure of closure. Virginia law allows surviving family members to seek compensation for several types of damages, including:
- Lost future income
- Medical expenses before death
- Burial and funeral costs
- The loss of companionship and guidance
- Sorrow and mental anguish
- Loss of services, protection, care, and assistance
How to Prove Fault in a Roanoke Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Proving negligence is an important aspect of any wrongful death lawsuit, and cases involving commercial trucks are no exception. Our truck accident attorney in Roanoke will need to show that the at-fault party owed your loved one a duty of care, breached that duty of care, and then caused their death and the damages your family is seeking.
For example:
- A trucking company has a responsibility to properly maintain its vehicles and ensure its drivers are well-rested and trained.
- The company may fail to uphold this duty by skipping regular maintenance checks or encouraging drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations.
- One day, a fatigued driver loses control of a poorly-maintained truck, causing a fatal accident.
- If the company had prioritized safety and followed regulations, the accident and death would not have happened. Therefore, it is liable for the damages the plaintiff seeks.
Discuss Your Truck Accident Wrongful Death Case with Monge & Associates
If a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence robbed your loved one of their life, you have the right to hold them accountable and pursue justice through a wrongful death claim. The attorneys at Monge & Associates can help you take on these powerful entities and recover the compensation that your family rightfully deserves. Contact us at (540) 453-7765 today and learn how we can help protect your family’s future.