Trucking Industry, Products Liability, and Insurance Defense.
As a trucking owner/operator, one of your highest priorities is the safety and well-being of employees and the general public. In fact, your reputation depends as much on your safety record as the quality of service you provide. Unfortunately, when accidents happen, the highly regulated nature of the industry can make defending against resulting claims both complicated and burdensome. At TimberlakeSmith, we understand the unique difficulties faced by commercial drivers, trucking companies, and their insurers when trying to defend against plaintiffs.
With more than 50 years of experience defending against claims arising from automobile and trucking accidents, freight/cargo disputes, and other matters involving motor vehicle accidents, including claims invoking uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, we are experts in building strong defenses for our clients. In addition, we defend companies and their insurers against claims of negligent hiring and supervision, and issues arising from government regulations and reporting, such as a Preventable Accident designation. This often draws on our knowledge of current (and past) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) Safety Measurement System (SMS), as well as our ability to work closely with accident reconstruction experts and Department of Transportation investigators.
Our convenient location in Staunton, Virginia, along Interstate 81 (I-81) near the intersection with Interstate 64 (I-64), enables us to respond rapidly and efficiently to emergency situations when investigation, inspections, and evidence preservation are crucial to successful defense strategies. The experience TimberlakeSmith has in tort law as it relates to motor vehicle accidents positions the firm to offer high-quality services.
Product Liability
We have been actively engaged in the general product liability field for years and have extensive experience handling jury trials and other litigation. We have successfully defended a number of products across three liability categories — (1) defective manufacture; (2) defective design; or (3) failure to provide adequate warnings or instructions concerning the proper use of the product.
Insurance Defense
TimberlakeSmith built its far-reaching reputation on its full-service insurance defense practice. In addition to motor vehicle and product liability claims, the attorneys at TimberlakeSmith have significant experience defending other personal injury claims, property damage claims, claims against businesses implicating commercial general liability insurance, errors and omissions claims, director's liability claims, and claims against homeowners.
