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Who’s to Blame? Identifying Liability in Trucking Accidents

Truck drivers face many hazards when they get behind the wheel. Not only does driving a freight truck require a high level of skill, focus, and endurance, truckers have to keep their cool despite extensive blind spots, frequent mechanical issues, and many hours on the road. These elements make trucking one of the toughest—and most dangerous—jobs. Not surprisingly, there are around 500,000 truck and large bus crashes a year with over 4,300 proving fatal.

Accidents involving commercial trucks tend to be more serious than ones involving just passenger vehicles. The sheer weight of a truck upon impact can leave a passenger vehicle devastated and the driver with catastrophic injuries.

Trucking accidents also tend to be more involved because the liability isn’t always straightforward. Is the driver liable, or the employer? Does the owner of the truck face liability? What if another company improperly loaded the truck and that caused the accident?

As you can see, liability in trucking accidents can be complicated considering the numerous factors at play, and every trucking accident is different. Generally speaking, however, several parties could be found liable for a truck accident.

Any person or company involved in getting the truck out on the road could potentially face partial or full liability, including the driver, the driver’s employer, the owner of the truck, the manufacturer of the truck, or even the person or company that loaded the truck or equipped it for the road. But to get a clearer idea of who is liable for your injuries, you need to speak with an experienced Arlington Heights trucking accident attorney about the specifics of your case.

If you’ve been injured in a commercial trucking accident, you have a right to compensation from all liable parties if you were not at fault. Speak with an attorney if you’ve been involved in a trucking accident. In these types of cases, the sooner you get an attorney involved, the more he or she will be able to help you. Truckers are subject to both State and Federal Department of Transportation regulations, meaning you need an attorney who is familiar with these to parse out exactly who is responsible and to what extent. You will also need an attorney who knows what pieces of information need to be gathered and from whom to prove liability.

Sharing the roads with truckers puts all of us at risk. So, report unsafe driving, stay aware of their blind spots, and give them plenty of space while on the road to reduce your chance of getting in a trucking accident.

R.F. Wittmeyer

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