Being involved in any type of auto accident is a frightening experience, but the stress, risk, and potential for death are exacerbated when you increase the size of the vehicle involved. The nature of these vehicles, combined with their sheer size and strength, means that accidents involving semi-trucks have the potential to cause devastating damage and fatalities.
If you, or someone you love, has been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, it is crucial that you get in touch to secure the support and compensation that you deserve. While this cannot turn back time, this compensation can play a key role in helping you to move forwards and rebuild your life following an accident.
What Are The Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
There can be a number of potential causes for truck accidents, and these include:
- Lack of Driver Training
On some occasions, the driver may not have received adequate training to carry out their job safely and effectively. This may mean that they are not comfortable with the semi, or lack the skills to handle it safely. It can also impact the way the truck is loaded, increasing the risk of an accident. In this incident, the fault may lie with the owner of the company, or the party responsible for training new drivers.
- Truck Does Not Meet Legal Requirements
In order to reduce the risk of an accident taking place, semi-trucks are legally required to adhere to specific size and weight requirements. In many accidents involving trucks, the load that has been attached to the vehicle is too high, too heavy, or has been loaded incorrectly. This causes an imbalance in the rest of the truck, increasing the risk of an accident.
- Truck Is Not Properly Maintained or Serviced
Semi-trucks are also required to undergo regular servicing and maintenance checks to ensure that it is safe for them to remain on the road, and to allow any issues or potential problems to be picked up and rectified immediately. If the owner of the truck fails to carry out this regular servicing and maintenance, the truck may not be roadworthy, and accidents can occur.
- Drivers Are Working Illegal Hours
We live in a fast-paced world, and this can sometimes result in the trucking companies placing impossible targets and deadlines on their drivers, causing them to speed or drive illegally, for example, when overly tired, or for longer than the legally recommended time. This increases the chances of serious accidents, and puts both the driver and other road users at serious risk of harm.
- Driver Error
In some cases, the fault lies with the driver making a serious error – this may be driving recklessly or dangerously, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or using a mobile phone behind the wheel. All of these distract attention from the road and can result in an accident.
Who Is At Fault For The Accident?
If you are involved in an accident, the first priority of your attorney will be to determine who was at fault for your accident – this will determine who is responsible for your compensation. In truck accidents, there are a few parties who may be deemed responsible:
- The Driver
If the accident occurs as a result of driver error, for example as the result of intoxication, speeding, or distracted driving, then the driver may be deemed to be at fault,
- The Truck Manufacturer
Sometimes, faulty manufacturing or components can be the reason for an accident – if this is proven to be the case, then the manufacturer of the truck or the component is likely to be held liable.
- The Trucking Company
If the accident occurred as a result of poor driver training, encouraging unsafe driving practices, or breaking safety regulations such as maximum driving times, then the trucking company can be deemed to be at fault. They may also be liable if they failed to carry out regular, routine maintenance or servicing on their vehicles.
What Is Negligent Entrustment?
Negligent entrustment is a topic that may come up during the investigation of an accident involving a semi-truck – this occurs when a trucking company knew, or should have reasonably known, that they had hired a driver who was dangerous, or allowed a dangerous driver to retain employment. The driver’s history will be explored here, including any examples of speeding tickets, previous warnings or incidents, and any bans or restrictions – these can prove that the driver should not have been on the road.
This is different from accidents involving vehicles, as this information will not be made available to the jury in these cases. In a case involving a semi, however, the vehicle is deemed as being owned by a corporation, and operated by a professional. During the course of the investigation, your attorney will explore whether the driver lied about their record, whether the company verified the driver’s history, and how thoroughly the driving record was checked. If negligence is proven to have occurred here, one or more parties may be liable.
How Can We Help?
Proving liability in a case that involves a semi-truck can be a challenge, and it is crucial that you have reliable, trustworthy, and experienced legal experts on your side – and this is where we can help. We will work to get to the bottom of your case and ensure that you receive the financial compensation that you deserve to help you rebuild your life.
