Burke, VA Personal Injury Attorney

Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Fighting for Injured Clients in Burke, Virginia

When accidents and injuries take place because of negligence, people who are injured may not know what to do next. The consequences of a serious injury can extend into every corner of a person's life, affecting their physical health, their financial stability, and their emotional well-being. As they recover from serious injuries and work to put their lives back together, people in these situations can get legal help from an attorney who can take steps to recover financial compensation that will address the damages they have suffered.

At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our attorney represents people in Burke, Virginia who have been seriously injured in situations where other people failed to protect their safety. We can honestly assess a personal injury case and provide guidance on the available options. He will provide compassionate legal help to ensure that clients understand what will happen next during their claims. With his experience securing compensation for injury victims, he can take steps to maximize the amounts that clients will be able to receive.

Truck Accidents and Serious Injuries

A large number of commercial trucks travel through Burke and the surrounding communities as they transport goods across the country or deliver items to warehouses, distribution centers, and other businesses. 18-wheelers and other types of large trucks can cause catastrophic harm when they are involved in collisions.

The injuries that occur in truck accidents can be severe, and they will often lead to permanent disabilities and health issues. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe fractures, internal organ damage, and amputations may occur when people in smaller vehicles collide with commercial trucks.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many reasons why trucks may collide with other vehicles, and in many of these cases, driver fatigue is a factor. Truck drivers are often required to follow demanding schedules, and they may try to continue driving for as long as possible to maximize the amount they earn. They can become tired after long shifts, and other issues may also lead to fatigue, such as sleep disorders or the use of certain medications may leave many drivers behind the wheel in a dangerously fatigued state. A truck driver who is fatigued may experience physical and mental issues that can affect their ability to drive safely, including longer reaction times, reduced awareness, and problems with coordination that may cause them to lose control and cause an accident.

Distracted driving, intoxicated driving, speeding, and other traffic violations by truck drivers can also lead to truck accidents. Unsecured cargo may shift and affect a driver's control over their vehicle. Inadequate truck maintenance may also be a factor, and issues such as defective brakes, worn tires, or problems with engines or steering systems may also lead to truck accidents.

Driver Negligence and Car Accidents

Drivers who do not take the proper steps to operate their vehicles safely may be responsible for causing car accidents. There are multiple types of driver negligence that can cause a driver to collide with one or more other vehicles, including:

• Distracted Driving: When a driver's attention is divided between the road and their phone, a navigation system, a meal, a passenger, or other activities, they may be unable to react to what is happening on the road around them. Even a brief moment of inattention may be long enough for a driver to crash into another vehicle and cause serious harm.
• Drunk Driving: When drivers are under the influence of alcohol, they will experience impairments such as reduced physical coordination, delayed reaction times, blurred vision, and other physical and mental issues that can make it impossible to drive safely. Drivers may be held responsible for causing accidents due to the use of alcohol or drugs, including marijuana, prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and controlled substances.
• Speeding: The likelihood of a crash will increase when a driver violates the speed limit. The distance needed to stop will increase at higher speeds, and a driver will have less time to respond to changes in traffic, red lights, pedestrians, or other unexpected hazards.
• Failure to Yield: Drivers may cause accidents when they do not obey right-of-way rules at stop signs, traffic signals, or other locations. A driver may cause a T-bone collision by proceeding through an intersection while another vehicle is present, or they may sideswipe another vehicle when merging or changing lanes without signaling.

Other Types of Auto Accident Cases

Pedestrian Accidents

When people walk near traffic or cross the road, they may be at risk of harm. Drivers who disobey traffic laws or act negligently in areas where people may be walking can cause dangerous pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian may be seriously injured when a driver fails to yield at a crosswalk, does not pay attention to the road due to distractions, or backs out of a driveway without looking for pedestrians behind them. Because pedestrians have no protection from the force of the impact in a collision, they may suffer severe injuries, including brain trauma, spinal cord damage, or serious fractures.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are at a higher risk of injury than drivers or passengers in enclosed vehicles. The injuries that can occur in motorcycle accidents can be severe. Many of these accidents are caused by drivers who fail to see motorcycles or who drive unsafely by changing lanes suddenly, turning in front of motorcycles, or tailgating behind motorcycles.

Rideshare Accidents

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services are used regularly by people in Burke. Accidents involving rideshare drivers may raise questions about who was responsible and what level of insurance coverage may apply. Our lawyer can help people who have been injured in rideshare accidents, including rideshare passengers, drivers of other vehicles, or pedestrians. He will take steps to hold rideshare companies liable and make sure the proper compensation is paid through insurance claims.

Contact Our Burke Personal Injury Lawyer

When an injury has been caused by negligence, Shevlin Smith, P.C. can provide legal help to ensure that a victim will be fully compensated. Our lawyer can assist with motor vehicle accidents, injuries caused by defective products, cases involving wrongful death, and more. Contact our Burke personal injury attorney at 703-591-0067 to set up a free consultation.