When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, investigations into truck accidents are among the most difficult. Extremely high stakes are at play: Tractor-trailer accidents frequently cause serious bodily harm or even death due to the vehicles’ extreme heaviness. High medical costs, the possibility of lifelong care, and the possibility of agony and suffering are all reasons why insurance companies battle.
Multiple entities are typically at fault in tractor-trailer accidents, including the driver, trucking business, truck manufacturer, component manufacturers, and maintenance service providers. Investigating a significant accident and its causes requires the skills of an experienced personal injury attorney who is familiar with trucking accidents and product liability lawsuits. Consult with a lawyer and learn more about your legal options today.
Who is to blame when a truck crashes?
In the aftermath of a collision, officials will try to figure out what led to the incident. When investigating a crash involving a tractor trailer, authorities usually start by focusing on the actions of the driver. Possible indicators of speeding in the case of jackknife collisions. Crashes involving an override often point to driver fatigue or inattention.
However, the trucking firm, truck manufacturer, or component maker may also bear responsibility for damages when a faulty trailer or connection contributes to a collision.
Truckers and other motorists must still keep their vehicles roadworthy. The coupling devices must be checked for proper operation. Even if the accident wasn’t the driver’s fault, he or she may still be held responsible if he or she saw a problem but chose to continue working.
Evidence that the trucking firm was aware of the trailer connection issues or didn’t provide for routine fleet maintenance is crucial for a truck accident lawyer seeking liability against the company. It is possible that other people, such as:
- The maker of the truck or trailer could be held responsible if they were responsible for the accident by creating a faulty product (such as a faulty hitch) and then doing nothing to fix it.
- A producer of a truck or trailer part could be held responsible if their product was found to be defective and no corrective action was taken.
- Transport company that provides: The service technician who worked on the fleet’s trucks and trailers might be held responsible if the broken part wasn’t fixed or reported.