A crash with a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck is different from an ordinary car accident. The vehicles are heavier, the injuries are often catastrophic, and more than one company may be responsible. If you were seriously hurt in a truck crash in or near Bristol, Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC investigates every angle.
Who May Be Responsible for a Truck Accident
Truck accidents involve more than just the driver. Depending on the facts, responsibility can reach:
- —The truck driver
- —The trucking company that employs the driver or owns the truck
- —Cargo loaders, if the load was improperly secured or overloaded
- —Maintenance contractors, if brakes, tires or other parts failed
Federal Safety Rules for Truck Drivers
Federal rules limit how long most commercial truck drivers may drive. A property-carrying driver may drive no more than 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off duty, must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and is capped at 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. When a driver or company breaks these rules, it can matter to a claim. Read more: truck driver hours of service rules.
Evidence That Disappears Quickly
Critical evidence in a truck case can be lost or overwritten soon after a crash, including electronic data from the truck, driver logs, maintenance records and dashcam video. An attorney can send a legal preservation letter right away, requiring the trucking company to keep this evidence. The earlier we are involved, the better.
Truck Crashes Near Bristol
I-84, Route 72, Route 6 and Route 229 carry commercial traffic through the Bristol area. Whether the crash involved a jackknife, a fatigued driver, an overloaded truck or a hazardous materials carrier, we can help. See our pages on jackknife accidents, fatigued drivers, overloaded trucks and hazmat accidents.
What Compensation May Be Available
You may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, future care, lost income, reduced earning ability, and pain and suffering. If a loved one died in a truck crash, read about wrongful death claims.
Deadlines to File
The general deadline is 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, and no more than 3 years from the crash. Read our Connecticut statute of limitations guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trucks are far heavier, injuries are usually more serious, and commercial carriers have large insurance policies and legal teams. Federal safety rules also apply, and several companies may share responsibility.
Areas We Serve
Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC represents seriously injured clients throughout Connecticut, including Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, and Farmington.
Most Connecticut personal injury claims must be filed within two years — and some deadlines are far shorter. See our Connecticut personal injury statute of limitations guide for deadlines by case type, exceptions, and why acting early matters.
Free Case Evaluation
Call (860) 589-8000, available 24/7, or submit your case online. No fee unless we win.