Commercial truck accidents are often serious in nature. Since these vehicles such as semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are huge in size and weight, a collision with a non-commercial passenger vehicle can be quite devastating, typically leading to catastrophic and fatal injuries.
Another major difference between commercial truck accidents and crashes involving only passenger vehicles is that more than one party may be potentially at fault for the collision. Holding the appropriate party responsible for the accident and injuries is required to recover all necessary compensation.
The following are the most common parties that can be held liable for a truck accident:
-
Truck driver – In most cases, the trucker is solely at fault for an accident for various reasons. He/she may violate traffic laws by speeding, texting while driving, or even fatigued driving. The driver could also be held liable for a crash caused by violating criminal law, such as drunk or drugged driving. Alas, if a negligent trucker causes a collision and injuries, he/she is at fault for the crash.
-
Truck company or carrier – Because trucking companies generally employs the truck driver (unless the trucker is an independent contractor), they may also be held liable for not only the trucker’s actions but also the safety of the trucks they own.
-
Manufacturer – If a defective truck or a defective part causes an accident, then the truck or part manufacturer is at fault. The batch of parts could malfunction and result in a mechanical failure, faulty brakes, or a tire blowout.
-
Cargo loader – If some or all the cargo on a truck falls off and damages another vehicle or causes injury, the loader could be at fault. Furthermore, a loader could also be held liable if the weight of the cargo exceeds federal regulations and the extra weight causes a truck malfunction, resulting in a crash.
Suffered an injury in a truck accident in Dallas, Houston, or Chicago? Contact the Dallas personal injury lawyers at Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers today and request a free consultation. Get experienced and personalized legal representation today!