Which Parties Can Be Held Liable for Truck Accident Injuries?

 Posted on November 25, 2019 in Truck Accidents

If you have been involved in a trucking accident, determining who is at fault can be complicated. From the driver to the manufacturer of the truck, there can be many different liable parties that may be held responsible for your injuries. Identifying the responsible party or parties can allow you to pursue the compensation you deserve, ensuring that the damages you have experienced will be fully addressed.

Who Is Responsible?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were approximately 450,000 crashes involving large trucks that were reported to the police in 2017, and out of these, 4,237 accidents (1 percent) resulted in fatalities, and 344,000 collisions (23 percent) involved injuries. When it comes to trucking accidents, multiple parties may be responsible, including:

• The truck driver - If the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident broke the law, was not adequately trained, or was intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, he or she may be liable for injuries that occurred.
• The trucking company - The company that hired the truck driver can also be a responsible party. Your attorney may be able to demonstrate a company’s liability by uncovering a missed truck inspection, an expired permit, and/or improper truck maintenance.
• The owner of the truck - In some cases, a trucking company does not own the truck being driven, but rents or leases it for business use. The owner of the truck is responsible for keeping it maintained, monitoring the engine, and performing regular oil and tire changes. Depending on the vehicle and its use by a business, the FMCSA has rules and regulations which must be followed, and violations of these rules may be considered negligence.
• The loaders - Cargo on the truck sometimes plays a part in the trucking accident. If the loaders did not fully inspect or fasten the load correctly, they may be held liable if the load fell off the truck, causing property damage and injury to another driver or vehicle.
• The vehicle manufacturer(s) - Truck parts such as brakes, tires, or engine components may malfunction or fail, resulting in dangerous accidents. In these cases, it may be possible to hold the manufacturer of the defective parts responsible for the accident.

Contact Our Milwaukee Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured in an accident involving a semi-trailer truck, our personal injury attorneys can help you establish liability for the collision and pursue compensation from all parties who were responsible. We will work to ensure that you receive the financial resources you need to recover from your injuries. Call our Milwaukee, WI truck accident attorneys today at 414-271-1440.

Sources: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2017

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations