Accidents involving commercial trucks occur due to fatigue, negligence, poor cargo loading and vehicle defects. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the police reported about 439,206 large trucks involved in traffic crashes in 2020 in the U.S.
Most of the people affected by these crashes were occupants of other vehicles. For this reason, you should know who to blame when you or your loved one is injured in a commercial trucking accident.
Below are the parties that may be liable.
Trucking company
A trucking company may be held liable for an accident in different situations. Examples include hiring an unskilled driver, having unrealistic work schedules/expectations, poor vehicle maintenance and encouraging drivers to use stimulants to work for long hours.
Driver
If the truck driver who crashed into your car was negligent, perhaps they were intoxicated, distracted or violated traffic laws, they may take responsibility for the accident. In these situations, the company may be free of liability.
Truck owner
Some trucking companies don’t own the vehicles, especially those with a significant fleet. They prefer leasing to avoid the high cost of buying. If poor vehicle maintenance contributed to the accident, the owner may be held liable as it may be their duty to keep the vehicle in good condition.
Cargo loaders
Cargo loaders are trained to load trucks competently. If they overload or fail to secure it correctly, an accident may occur, in which case they may take responsibility.
Manufacturer
If a trucking accident occurs due to a manufacturing or design defect, the vehicle’s manufacturer may be liable. However, in most cases, the manufacturer of a single part may be responsible for the flaw.
Determining liability in accidents that involve commercial trucks may be challenging. You should get professional guidance to learn more about your case.
