While it may not seem like it, there are bigger differences when dealing with a truck accident than just the size of the vehicle. Although they are well insured, companies with commercial trucks will fire back at you with a whole legal team to avoid paying out for damage, injury, or even death. This is why the best thing you can do in such an event is to hire a trusted attorney to defend your interests.
To help understand liability in commercial trucks, let’s look at some of the main events that lead to truck crashes, and the reasons behind them. The following points are based on findings by a federal safety group:
This basically means the driver is not driving. Whether asleep or unconscious, their inability to be aware and in control of the vehicle is the cause of the accident. This could stem from a heart attack or seizure, overdose, falling asleep, or drug or alcohol-related unconsciousness.
In this case, the driver is awake but maybe not very aware. Things like overcompensating, panicking, driving aggressively or issues with directional control would all fall under this term. The related causes could be intoxication, distraction, fatigue, or inexperience.
The other side of this would be events like a failure to stop caused by ineffective brakes. And while the driver’s performance may not be directly to blame, it is still the responsibility of the driver or the company to keep their vehicles properly serviced and in good working order.
This means that the driver is not properly interpreting the conditions of the road. This could mean a failure to notice another car, to observe slippery conditions, or to slow down to meet the pace of traffic around them. These kinds of failures are usually related to distractions such as texting or streaming content while driving, other drivers or animals on the road, or being unfamiliar with their surroundings. They can also come about if the driver does not react in time to planned traffic stops such as lights or crosswalks, as well as unplanned or emergency stops like other accidents or police activity.
This is about choices the driver makes, whether routinely or in reaction to a given circumstance. Things like speeding, failing to brake on time, traveling too close to other drivers, or changing lanes in a dangerous way are all related to this idea. Obviously, drug/alcohol use or being overwhelmed are reasons that the decision-making process could be affected. And this entails more than illegal drug use, over-the-counter and prescription drugs can have disastrous consequences on a driver’s ability. There is also an inordinate amount of pressure on these truck operators to drive very long distances in very short amounts of time. For this reason, the issue of fatigue can not be stressed enough as a cause for poor decision-making.
Even in the most obvious instances of events and causes, there can be a legal battle ahead of you to get what you deserve from your accident. Take care of yourself, your interests, and your family by knowing your rights and seeking professional help.
blogs
Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer
Accidents happen almost every time and sometimes so fast that you don’t have time to figure out the way forward. True, you might end up feeling stressed up because of the piling medical bills. The pilling finances might drain you, thus rendering you unable to work. Statistics reveal that more than 31 million people are […]
Cell Phones and Accidents on the Road
We have all done it. Even with the headsets, the hands-free devices, and the ability to connect your phone to your car, all of us have reached for the phone while driving. Whether it’s checking a quick text at a stoplight or messing around with your maps app while driving in a new place, the […]
Five Safety Products for Motorcycle Riders
Approximately ten percent of motor vehicle deaths in the United States can be attributed to motorcycleaccidents. Safe riding and defensive driving are important to all motor vehicle operations, of course, but making sure you’re stocked up on the right equipment to make your ride as safe as possible is critical to avoiding accidents or, in […]
Car Airbag Injuries: What You Need to Know
Car airbags are designed to save lives in the event of a car crash. They are among the most innovative, auto-safety features of recent decades, and have even been proven effective in reducing driver mortality. However, even though efficient, airbags are sometimes the reason behind fatalities. We explore various airbag defects, the type of injuries […]
Common Land Rover Problems: When to Apply the Lemon Law
Range Rovers have an irresistible allure. One characterized by a sporty appearance, high performance, and luxurious interior. They also have a high safety rating, but it’s not uncommon for them to experience problems that render them as lemon. Some of the issues have led to recalls, and others are yet to be addressed by the […]
Get Personal Injury Help in Southern California and Arizona from RS Law Offices
If you live in Southern California or Arizona, and you’ve been injured in an accident, you may have a right to seek compensation. If you’ve suffered a personal injury, you’re going to have some questions, and navigating those concerns is all but impossible to do on your own. You not only have a right to […]
Four Medical Alert and Slip and Fall Apps
Slip and fall accidents are unfortunately rather common in the US. The part that many people often miss when discussing slip and fall accidents, though, is that it is not just the elderly who suffer from them. Anyone of any age can have an accident, and people of all walks of life may have chronic […]
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycles may be a reliably safe mode of transportation but, as in so many accidents out in the world, the problem is not often with the mode of transportation you’re in, but how the person who hits you is traveling. Every year, more than 50,000 bicyclists are injured in collisions with automobiles. Too few of […]
Hotels and Personal Injuries
Everyone is looking to travel right about now. Summer is getting into full swing, and whether you are looking to see a distant land or reacquaint yourself with familiar faces, you’re probably planning your next big adventure, too. Besides the normal precautions, like ensuring home security while you’re away, or booking some travel insurance, you […]
Ridesharing Services May Help Lower Drunk Driving Accidents
Research has been done in Chicago showing a correlation between ridesharing and drunk driving incidents. The study looks at the relationship between rideshare participants on the road and accidents over about a year’s time. It is no secret that drunk driving leads to catastrophic damages and injury on a regular basis in America. If you […]
contact form
