While they both may share the road, cars and trucks are far different from
each other. Commercial trucks can be up to 80,000 pounds, while the average
car weighs about 4,000 pounds. Because to the immense weight of these
trucks, accidents involving them are frequently severe and can leave victims
catastrophically injured or dead.
Truck accidents are different from
car accidents due to the severity of the injuries caused, but also in a number of other
ways. If you’ve been involved in an accident with a truck, your
personal injury claim will not be so straight forward as a claim involving
another car.
Severe Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are large and heavy, which inhibits their ability to
stop or maneuver quickly. When a truck is involved in an accident, their
size causes accidents to be much more serious, even at low speeds. Truck
accidents often result in
catastrophic injuries for victims, and can even be fatal. Common injuries sustained in trucking
accidents include:
Liability in Trucking Accidents
Trucks are often owned by trucking companies, who hire drivers to haul
loads. It is also possible that a driver is an owner and operator of their
truck. Drivers can also be independent contractors for larger companies
or be leasing their truck from a company. There are many unique situations
when it comes to responsibility for an accident that it can be difficult
to determine who is at fault for your accident.
The driver may be held liable, as they were the person in control of the
truck, but different circumstances can mean the trucking company, owner
of the truck, or even the manufacturer of the truck can share in the responsibility
for the accident. If it was found that poor maintenance, an
overloaded or poorly loaded truck, and
inexperienced truck driver, or other factors are to blame for the accident, the company may share
in the fault for the accident. It is the responsibility of the company
to ensure the safety of those on the road by properly caring for their
trucks, training drivers, assigning safe loads, and ensuring that their
drivers follow all
regulations.
The driver may be held liable if they were driving in an unsafe manner, were
driving when too fatigued, or were found to have altered their logs illegally to stay on the road
past their hours of service limit. A manufacturer can be held liable if
a component failed under normal use, and caused the accident. Additionally,
the owner, lessee, or lessor of the truck may be responsible if maintenance
procedures were not followed.
The Role of Insurance in Truck Accidents
It is likely that there will be multiple insurance policies involved in
a trucking accident as well. Each party can have their own insurance policy
to protect them, and it is possible that you will have to settle with
more than one company or policy for your accident. In addition to multiple
insurance companies, you may have to handle multiple lawyers and investigations
to determine the cause of your accident, as each party involved in the
accident tries to protect their own interests. Truck accident claims also
tend to move forward quickly, as many companies maintain attorneys on
staff for the sole purpose of handling accident claims. To ensure that
you receive compensation, it is best to begin your claim as soon as possible.
Contact a skilled truck accident lawyer to help you navigate your complicated
case. They will investigate your accident and build a case to defend your
right to compensation for your injuries.
Don’t hesitate to seek help if you’ve been injured in a truck
accident. Our Fort Worth truck accident attorneys can help you file your
claim. At the
Law Office of James M. Stanley, our team has been serving injured victims since 1976, and we are dedicated
to ensuring that our clients receive the maximum settlement possible.
Contact our office today to schedule a
free consultation to begin your case.