Fault for truck accidents is seldom as straightforward as it might seem. Many mistakes – made by many people – can lead to crashes. Here are some of the parties that potentially can be held responsible for accidents involving semi trucks.
Semi-truck driver
Fault could involve the same types of negligence that causes car accidents: drunk driving, aggressive driving, distracted driving, reckless driving, driving too fast or too slow for conditions, and others.
Fatigue also can play an important role in truck accidents. Federal law requires that commercial truck drivers obey hours of service rules. These regulations specify how long they are allowed to drive and when they need breaks. Electronic devices track this information.
But fatigue is not always or entirely the truck driver’s fault. Trucking companies sometimes place unfair, dangerous demands on drivers, even forcing drivers to ignore the federal hours-of-service rules.
Car driver
Truck accidents sometimes are caused by the drivers of passenger vehicles. Driver negligence can include – as it pertains specifically to truck accidents — following too closely or driving in a semi truck’s blind spots.
Trucking company
As mentioned above, trucking companies can be held responsible for driver fatigue. Other possible negligence could include: inadequate driver training, failure to conduct thorough driver background checks, poor maintenance of trucks.
Truck manufacturer
Defects can include steering, tires, wheels, lighting, fuel system, suspension.
Others manufacturers
These could include tire manufacturers, brake manufacturers, trailer manufacturers and makers of component parts.
Road design engineers or road maintenance staff
Sudden turns, uneven roads, inadequate or improper lane striping, confusing road signs, construction hazards. The mistakes could the fault of government highway departments, engineers, construction companies and others.
If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident and need legal help, contact an experienced truck accident attorney.