Getting What Is Rightfully Yours

Who Is Liable For A Truck Accident?

8 December 2015 by Penny Fisher

Trucking accidents often have serious consequences and those involved can be seriously injured as a result of the accident. When a person has been in a truck accident that was caused by the truck driver, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. They have the option of working with a truck accident attorney to secure an adequate settlement. This is often crucial with these types of cases as the truck driver may not actually be liable for the accident. The party who is liable for an accident is the one who owes compensation to the victim, so determining liability is an essential part of any truck accident case.

A truck driver is required to follow laws that state how much they can drive in a single day, how long they can go without a break, and more. This is for their protection and to protect others on the road from an accident being caused by a truck driver who was too sleepy to pay attention or who fell asleep at the wheel. A truck driver who is forced to drive over these limits may cause an accident and may not be the one liable for the compensation. If they had to drive long hours to keep their job, the employer may actually be the one to hold liable for the injuries caused by an accident. 

Another situation that could cause a truck to cause an accident is the disrepair of the truck itself. A truck that is not properly maintained may be dangerous to drive and may mean the manufacturer or the company that repairs the trucks is instead liable for the accident. If the truck driver has pointed out issues with the truck and they haven't been repaired properly, or at all, the driver may not be the one responsible and the person who was in charge of caring for the truck might be liable instead.

It can be difficult to determine liability in the car accident and know who to turn to for compensation for any injuries sustained in the accident. A truck accident lawyer (such as one from Scherline And Associates) will be familiar with these types of cases and will know what to look at to determine the liability. This way, the victim of the accident can ensure they are suing the correct party for compensation and will be able to obtain the compensation they're entitled to faster and easier than if they tried to go after the wrong party for compensation.

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