Survivors of serious truck accidents often have to deal with physical and emotional stress. Sometimes, the most stressful part is filing a claim because crash victims don’t know who is liable for the accident. Determining liability in a trucking accident should be among your foremost priorities when you seek compensation for your injuries.
The responsible party
Just like other auto accidents, truck accidents might have several responsible parties. The manufacturer could be liable if the truck was faulty. The agency that hired the truck is also required to carry out inspections on the vehicle. If the inspections were wrongly carried out, the agency might be at fault. In the case of third parties at the crash site, the liability might fall on them. Another possibility for liability falls on the driver.
The truck driver
The truck driver is liable if they broke any traffic laws. Additionally, if the driver was driving under the influence, they are liable for the accident. Health conditions or fatigue are other reasons that may make the driver liable. In many cases, the driver is liable for injuries caused and the property damage.
The trucking company
Although proving the liability of the trucking company is difficult, an experienced attorney may guide you. If the trucking company failed to carry out a complete inspection or expected the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines, it could be held responsible for an accident. Trucking companies and the manufacturers are mostly held liable together.
The truck owner
The truck owner is responsible if they fail to inspect the vehicle. The owner needs to check the engine, tires and other necessary parts. Failure to follows these steps could make the owner liable in case of an accident.
Have you been involved in a trucking accident? You may want to contact an attorney to help you file a claim.