Due to the excessive weight of the cargo and sheer size of the truck, as well as the complexities involved in navigating and loading a commercial truck, truck drivers must be trained specifically on the ins and outs of commercial truck driving before hitting the road. However, many drivers do not receive the training necessary to operate these vehicles or fail to abide by the trucking regulations implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Trucking company and trucker negligence can cause thousands of commercial vehicle accidents each year.
Filing a lawsuit after a commercial truck accident
Truck accidents can responsible for thousands of deaths and lifelong injuries each year, many of which are drivers and passengers of passenger vehicles. If you have been injured in a truck accident, a personal injury attorney can help you file a claim against the negligent parties liable for your injuries. These parties may include:
- Truck owner
- Truck driver
- Truck driver’s employer (e.g. trucking company)
- Truck maintenance company
Once you determine who is at fault for your truck accident, you must show the judge or jury why they are at-fault. In most cases, this means establishing negligence. In other words, the party must have breached a duty owed to you and caused you injury as a result of that breach. For example:
- Truck drivers may be negligent in failing to take breaks to remedy driver fatigue (in accordance with FMCSA regulations), driving at an excessive rate of speed, or following too closely behind the victim’s vehicle.
- Trucking companies may be negligent in failing to properly train, hire, and supervise their drivers, or failing to conduct proper inspections of their trucks before travel, and failing to properly maintain their trucks.
Truck accidents can be devastating, not only for the victims themselves, but also their family members. BY fling a claim against the parties responsible for your accident, you can recover damages to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses, as well as pain and suffering and mental anguish. A personal injury attorney can assist you in the claim-filing process.
