Commercial trucks carry everything from building materials to consumer goods. When truck cargo is not loaded and secured properly, it may become loose or even fall out of the truck during transit. This can cause terrible traffic accidents in which people are severely injured or killed. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a car accident caused by dropped truck freight, it is important to learn about your legal options.

Suing a Trucking Company for an Accident Caused by Poorly Secured Freight

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has instituted strict requirements for how truck cargo should be loaded and secured. Cargo must be evenly distributed in the trailer or on the truck bed so that the truck’s maneuverability is not adversely affected by the load. The cargo must be tightly secured so that it does not move around during transit. When trucking companies do not follow these rules, cargo may fall out of the truck and spill onto the road below. Cargo may strike a vehicle or become a dangerous obstacle that other motorists must swerve to avoid. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident caused by truck cargo, you may be able to sue the liable party for negligence.

Often, the trucking company or the party responsible for loading and securing cargo is liable for an accident caused by dropped truck cargo. However, it is also possible that design or manufacturing defects in the securement devices or the truck itself are to blame for the incident. In this case, it may be possible to sue the company that designed or manufactured the faulty products through a product liability lawsuit.

In March 2021, there were over 1600 instances of felony assault and 34 murders in New York City alone. The New York criminal justice system is responsible for holding perpetrators of violence accountable for their horrific actions. While a criminal conviction may result in punitive consequences including imprisonment, criminal penalties do not directly address the harm suffered by the victim or the victim’s surviving family members. A personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit may allow for the recovery of damages as well as accountability through the civil legal system.

Filing a Claim Against the Perpetrator of Violence

Per New York law, a personal injury or wrongful death claim may be filed when:

Large commercial trucks are responsible for hauling most of the freight that is transported across the United States. While any truck accident can lead to severe injuries and death, accidents involving trucks that are transporting hazardous or flammable material are often especially gruesome. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a hazardous materials truck accident, it is important to know your rights. You may be able to hold the at-fault party accountable and recover financial compensation for your damages through a personal injury lawsuit.

Trucks Carrying Hazardous Materials Must Comply With Strict Safety Standards

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) categorizes hazardous materials into several different groups. Trucks carrying hazardous material must be labeled with a placard identifying the type of hazardous material being hauled. Hazardous materials fall into the following nine categories:

A personal injury claim can enable an injured person to recover financial compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, in order to receive financial compensation through a personal injury claim, the plaintiff must establish the defendant’s negligence or wrongdoing. Whether an injury results from a vehicle collision, truck crash, construction accident, or another incident, there is usually a multitude of factors that contribute to an injurious accident. The injured person’s own actions may even contribute to his or her injury. In cases of shared liability for an injury-causing accident, is the injured person still entitled to compensation?

Connecticut Law Regarding Shared Liability for a Personal Injury

State laws regarding shared liability for a personal injury or wrongful death vary. A handful of states follow a legal doctrine called “contributory negligence.” In contributory negligence states, an injured person is barred from recovery if he or she contributed to the injury-causing incident in any way.

A personal injury claim is a civil legal action that an injured individual may take against the party that injured him or her. Many personal injury claims are based on the concept of “negligence” or carelessness. Most car accidents, premises liability, and product liability claims are negligence-based claims. However, a personal injury claim may also be founded upon an intentional tort such as an assault, battery, or homicide.

Civil Claims Based on Intentional Wrongdoing

Most personal injury claims are founded upon an accusation of negligence. In a negligence-based claim, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s careless or irresponsible actions caused him or her harm. A personal injury claim may also be founded upon an intentionally harmful act such as:

Distracted driving continues to be a huge contributor to serious automobile accidents in Connecticut and throughout the United States. We often associate distracted driving with texting while driving. However, distracted driving occurs when any type of distraction takes a motorist’s attention off of driving or his or her hands off of the wheel. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.

What Is Distracted Driving?

For seasoned drivers, driving a motor vehicle becomes second nature. Most drivers instinctively know how to move their hands and feet to operate a car safely. However, when a driver is distracted, he or she may make crucial mistakes behind the wheel. Distracted driving can involve any of the following activities or behaviors:

If you or a loved one were injured on a commercial property in Connecticut, you may have questions about who is legally responsible for the injuries. Premises liability laws govern property owners’ liability for injuries that occur on their properties. Property owners are not expected to prevent every injury, but they are expected to take steps to reduce the chances of people being injured while visiting the property. Property owners may be held accountable for injuries caused by their negligence through a premises liability claim.

Understanding a Property Owner’s Legal Duty of Care

Commercial property owners must meet certain safety standards by law. Owners and occupiers of commercial properties must keep the premises free of hazards and unsafe conditions. If an unsafe condition does exist, they are expected to provide adequate warnings to visitors about the danger. Premises liability laws apply to owners and operators of:

COVID-19 has changed nearly every aspect of our lives – including the way legal proceedings are handled. Courts across the country are requiring personal injury depositions and other proceedings to take place remotely in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Although parties in a remote deposition attend the deposition via audio and video software, the overall structure of the deposition remains the same. Many of the same legal requirements and procedures will still apply. If you have been asked to participate in a virtual deposition or remote deposition, it is important to make sure you are fully prepared for a deposition and understand what to expect.

Technology Concerns During Remote Court Proceedings

The technology used for remote court proceedings in Connecticut may vary slightly from case to case, but most virtual court proceedings will involve the same basic setup. Instead of a physical room, your deposition will take place in a virtual environment. Some participants may be in a conference room or courtroom while others are in their homes. To participate in the virtual deposition, you will likely need a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone. The court will send you an email explaining how to set up the video conferencing software or app used for the virtual deposition. You will also receive an email with a secure hyperlink and password for the virtual environment. Make sure the batteries in your device are charged, your Internet connection is stable, and that your microphone and camera are working correctly before the deposition begins.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur when a person receives a sudden and violent blow to the head or when an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue. TBIs can result from car crashes, slip and fall accidents, assaults, and other incidents. Severe TBIs can cause long-term, debilitating symptoms. Victims of TBI are often burdened by overwhelming medical expenses and left unable to work. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation for your damages if another party’s negligent actions led to your accident.

Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

The brain is responsible for a wide range of crucial body functions, including sensory information processing, memory, thought, muscle movement, and the regulation of breathing and blood pressure. When the brain is damaged, the results can be catastrophic. TBI sufferers may experience headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, inability to concentrate, memory problems, changes in mood, and more. In severe TBI cases, the sufferer may experience these symptoms as well as vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, numbness, inability to awaken from sleep, loss of coordination, and cognitive impairment. A concussion is a common form of TBI that can vary significantly in severity. Some people suffer a concussion and do not even realize it. Others, especially those who develop post-concussion syndrome, may experience incapacitating symptoms for weeks or months after the injury-causing incident.