When rain-slicked roads contribute to a commercial truck accident, the complex interplay of weather conditions, driver responsibility, and vehicle maintenance creates challenging questions of liability. Hydroplaning occurs when water builds between tires and road surfaces, causing vehicles to lose traction and control. In commercial trucking accidents, this dangerous condition becomes particularly hazardous due to the massive weight and momentum of tractor-trailers. Common contributing factors include inadequate tire tread depth, excessive speed for conditions, improper brake maintenance, and insufficient driver training for wet weather operations. When a hydroplaning truck causes injury or damage in Harrisonburg, victims may have grounds for personal injury claims against multiple parties, including the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, or even government entities responsible for road design and drainage.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Virginia follows a modified comparative negligence system under VA Code § 8.01-44.5, where plaintiffs can recover damages if they are found to be less than 51% at fault. Commercial trucks must maintain minimum insurance coverage of $750,000 for bodily injury and property damage. Victims have two years from the accident date to file personal injury claims under Virginia's statute of limitations (VA Code § 8.01-243). Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. In cases involving commercial vehicles, federal regulations regarding equipment maintenance (49 CFR Part 393) and driver conduct (49 CFR Part 392) may affect liability determinations. An experienced Harrisonburg commercial truck crash lawyer will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

If you've been injured in a truck accident, it is likely that you were riding in another vehicle, and the at-fault truck driver could have engaged in any number of dangerous behaviors that resulted in serious injuries. Click the links below to get help from an attorney who specializes in your type of accident or injury:

• Harrisonburg car accident attorney;
• Harrisonburg pedestrian accident attorney;
• Harrisonburg motorcycle accident lawyer;
• Harrisonburg bicycle accident attorney;
• Harrisonburg wrongful death claim lawyer;
• Harrisonburg spinal cord injury attorney;
• Harrisonburg whiplash injury law firm;
• Harrisonburg brain injury attorney.

Related Resources

Local Courts:

• Rockingham County Circuit Court
• Harrisonburg General District Court

Support Services:

• Virginia Victim/Witness Program
• Brain Injury Association of Virginia
• Virginia State Police Crash Report Services

Regulatory Resources:

• Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual (DMV)
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations
• Virginia Traffic Laws (Code of Virginia Title 46.2)

Return to the Harrisonburg 18-wheeler accident information page