The Vermont personal injury lawyers at Sylvester & Maley have represented over 1,000 individuals injured or killed in accidents involving:

• Automobiles
• Tractor-trailers
• Trucks
• Buses
• Motorcycles.

These individuals suffered whiplash, broken bones, internal injuries, facial disfigurement, scarring, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The seriousness of the injuries has ranged from sprains and strains to paraplegia, quadriplegia and death.

The firm's trial attorneys have achieved particular success litigating in Vermont on behalf of victims of automobile accidents.

• In 2003, the firm settled a suit involving a trucking accident for 2.9 million dollars, and obtained a jury verdict in excess of 2.5 million dollars in a wrongful death case arising from a tractor-trailer accident. The latter was the largest verdict in the history of Vermont for this type of claim.
• In 2004, the firm settled a case involving a drunken driving accident for 5.4 million dollars.

Sylvester & Maley has worked with some of the country's most renowned experts in the fields of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, biochemical and safety engineering, design and crash worthiness.

If you or a member of your family have suffered injuries or been killed as a result of a truck accident, car accident, motor cycle accident, ATV accident or S.U.V. accident, please contact us via our inquiry form or call collect at 802-864-5722 for a free initial consultation and case evaluation with one of our lawyers.

Underinsured and Uninsured Claims in Vermont

Most motor vehicle insurance policies include coverage for injuries caused by uninsured and underinsured drivers. Therefore, if you, a family member or a passenger in your vehicle is injured due to the negligent operation of a driver without insurance or with inadequate insurance coverage, a potential claim against your own insurance policy may exist.

Many vehicles in Vermont are only insured up to $25,000 or $50,000. Given the cost of medical care and lost wages that often result from injuries sustained in automobile accidents, this amount of coverage may be insufficient. In instances where the damages exceed the amount of coverage of the negligent party, a victim may be able to make a claim against the Underinsured Motorist Coverage portion of the insurance policy of the non-negligent party.

There are many legal nuances to determining how much insurance coverage may be available to compensate victims of motor vehicle accidents. Often more than one insurance policy is involved. Caution should be exercised even when communicating with your own insurance company when there is a question regarding who will pay for the harm caused by a car accident. It is best to speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer prior to such communications.

One of the personal injury lawyers at Sylvester & Maley can help you understand the intricacies of insurance coverage questions, and pursuing an underinsured or uninsured claim. Please contact us via our inquiry form or call collect at 802-864-5722 to discuss whether you have a Vermont Uninsured or Underinsured Motor Vehicle Insurance Claim.

Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Vermont

If a drunk driver causes physical harm to another person, such a driver may be deemed negligent for purposes of a personal injury claim. In addition to being subject to criminal prosecution, the drunk driver will have to pay monetary damages to the injured victim.

Under certain circumstances, those who provide alcohol to a driver may also be liable for damages. Most states, including Vermont, have laws which impose liability on bars, restaurants and other establishments whose employees supply liquor improperly to those who injure third parties. Whether a claim against the supplier of alcohol has merit is dependent upon the facts surrounding the manner in which the alcohol was supplied.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, feel free to contact us via our inquiry form or call 802-864-5722 for a free initial consultation and case evaluation with one of our lawyers.

Vermont Law Pertaining To Motor Vehicle Accidents

Beyond the law which applies to all Vermont personal injury claims, the law governing personal injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents (including automobiles, cars, buses, trucks, motor cycles) can be found in Vermont's safety statutes (23 V.S.A. § 1031, et al.) and Vermont case law. Generally, drivers are required to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances in their operation of motor vehicles. Violation of Vermont's safety statutes constitutes a rebuttable presumption of negligence.

Helpful Resources

• Vehicle Defects and Recalls - SaferCar.gov
• Traffic Safety - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Vermont Statutes Governing Motor Vehicles - Vermont State Legislature