When an accident occurs involving a commercial truck, there is almost always an injury and many times, the injuries are more serious than a car accident. If you are a victim of a commercial truck accident, you need to know how you can be compensated for both physical and emotional damages you suffered as a result.
The Dangers of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are dangerous and normally cause more injury because of the size and the weight of the truck being driven. Trucks are most always loaded and are normally hauling something that could be dangerous, such as gasoline. When an accident occurs while hauling dangerous material, multiple injuries can be the result. Truck drivers go through training in order to handle a truck loaded and unloaded safely. In addition, they must demonstrate that they are able to handle the truck before they are given the freedom to drive on their own.
Do You Have a Commercial Truck Accident Case?
If you have been a victim in a commercial truck accident, you may need to provide proof that the driver in the truck caused the injuries you sustained and that the accident occurred due to their negligence. Negligence occurs when the driver of the commercial truck failed to act carefully in order to protect you and other drivers. If you can provide some type of proof that this accident could have been avoided if the driver was more careful, then you can win the case due to negligence.
The Complexities of Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident can be very complicated when trying to provide proof of negligence. That is because the trucking company will protect their employees and others who could be of help to them. If you want to receive compensation for the injuries you received due to an accident that you didn’t cause, you will need to be able to identify the defendants in the case.
If an accident does occur, the employer of the driver may also be considered negligent in behavior because the company wasn’t supervising their employees adequately. That is why everyone needs to be identified in the case, including supervisors and management. Let’s say the drivers employer had the driver transport hazardous materials but they didn’t tell the driver that the material he was transporting actually was hazardous, then this makes the company responsible as well. These cases can become very complicated so it’s important that you are represented by a lawyer that knows how to best work these situations out for your benefit.
When is the Driver Not Negligent?
When a driver is driving a commercial truck, there are several instances where the driver is actually unable to prevent or control the situation that would have prevented the accident from occurring. For example, if the truck is jack knifing, the driver can only apply the brake and steer the vehicle out of your pathway when possible. Or maybe the turn is slippery and there was a stalled vehicle up ahead. In either one of these instances, the truck driver couldn’t avoid an accident from occurring. Another instance is if a driver needs two lanes to make a right turn and this is why an accident occurred.
Regardless of the situation, if you have been in an accident involving a commercial truck, you should contact a lawyer to go over your options and to determine if you can be compensated for the injuries that you have received. A consultation with a lawyer is free for you so you can learn more about your rights and how to proceed.