In the average car crash claim, you have a good idea of whom to hold accountable. Usually, it is the other driver who ran into you. Accountability might not be so straightforward in a truck crash. Multiple parties may have been at fault in some way.
The expense and complexity of trucks and the fact that they are used for commercial operations, mean that many parties are usually involved behind the scenes. An error or oversight by one, even if they were miles away when the crash happened, could have contributed to the accident.
Multiple parties
Examples of who might share the blame apart from the driver include:
- The truck’s owner could be responsible if they sent the driver out without adequate training or pushed them to break hours of service rules.
- The mechanics who maintained the truck could have liability if, for example, they failed to secure the wheel nuts properly, and a wheel came off mid-journey, causing the driver to lose control.
- The last team to load the truck could be liable if the load shifted mid-ride, causing the trailer to topple over
- The parts manufacturer could be liable if the failure of a part led to the accident
The number of parties that could be at fault is not the only reason these claims are more complex.
Higher costs
The costs those injured by trucks face are often much higher than after the average car crash. Trucks are so big and heavy that the chance of catastrophic injury is much higher for anyone they hit.
One insurance policy, such as that held by a truck driver, might not cover all the costs you incur, so you may have to pursue multiple parties to get the total amount of compensation you need. Experienced legal guidance is advisable in a situation like this.
