Everyone who operates a motor vehicle on public Connecticut roads, including commercial truck drivers, has a legal duty to keep their attention focused on driving while they are behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the proliferation of smartphones has made distracted driving increasingly common in the Nutmeg State and across the entire country, and semi-truck operators who act irresponsibly can end up causing catastrophic crashes as a result.
Distracted driving truck accidents in Stamford can serve as valid grounds for personal injury litigation, but that does not mean that getting a good result from this type of claim will be easy. Working closely with a dependable truck accident lawyer from Berkowitz Hanna is essential to pursuing the compensation you deserve and navigating legal and procedural roadblocks.
Whether they are texting, talking over the radio or to a passenger, eating or drinking, or letting their eyes wander for a moment, a truck driver who causes a traffic accident because they were distracted behind the wheel is legally negligent under Connecticut state law. More specifically, they breached their legal duty of care to drive responsibly at all times and are therefore legally liable for any injuries and losses they cause another person to suffer.
It is also often possible after distracted driving truck accidents in Stamford to name the company that employs a negligent driver as a co-defendant in any civil claim filed over that wreck. This is because of a legal principle known as respondeat superior, which allows employers to be held vicariously liable for negligence by one of their employees under certain circumstances, and it may allow for greater financial recovery than a claim filed solely against a single truck driver would.
Of course, any amount of comparative fault an injured truck crash victim holds for causing an accident through their negligence may result in a proportional reduction from their final damage award. As per Connecticut General Statutes §52-572h, any person found to hold a majority of the total fault for their own injury is barred from recovering any civil compensation whatsoever from any other person who is partially at fault for that injury.
On top of that, C.G.S. §52-584 gives most people injured by someone else’s negligence a maximum of two years to file suit after initially sustaining harm, even if they have suffered a debilitating injury with permanent repercussions. Achieving success with a civil claim based on a Stamford distracted driving truck crash requires understanding and maneuvering around restrictions like these, which a knowledgeable lawyer can provide assistance with.
Driving a tractor-trailer weighing tens of thousands of pounds requires constant attention and concentration. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for truck drivers to get distracted behind the wheel and cause serious traffic collisions as a result—something which you may have learned the hard way recently.
If you were hurt in a distracted driving truck accident in Stamford, the legal team at Berkowitz Hanna can guide you through the process of demanding the restitution you deserve. Call today to schedule a consultation.
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