Who is at fault largely depends on the circumstances surrounding your truck accident.
But several parties could cause your truck accident and injuries.
- The truck driver. The most obvious place to put blame is on the truck driver. As discussed above, human error is the most common reason truck accidents occur. By filing a claim against the truck driver, you would attempt to collect compensation from them or, most likely, their insurance company to cover the costs of your injuries.
- The trucking company. Another common place to look for blame is the truck company. Sometimes, the truck driver owns the truck. Many commercial truck drivers act as independent contractors, but this should not prohibit you from determining if the truck company is to blame, too. If the company owns the truck, you may hold the company liable for improper training, poor hiring practices, and countless other factors that could have contributed to your truck accident.
- The mechanic. A mechanic and the company the mechanic works for can also be responsible. In some cases, mechanics improperly service a truck by failing to install brakes or other components correctly. This kind of mistake can have serious implications that can cause a truck accident. As a result, the mechanic that failed to properly maintain the truck or their employer could be partially or fully liable for your accident and injuries.
- The truck manufacturer. Another place to look is the truck manufacturer. Sometimes accidents happen because of a default in the truck itself. Commercial trucks, especially newer ones, are complex mechanical and computerized vehicles. There are lots of things that can go wrong. When that happens, accidents result. You may hold the truck manufacturer liable for your accident if the truck malfunctioned, leading to your accident.
Many parties could cause your truck accident beyond those listed here. That’s why it’s important to work with a knowledgeable truck accident injury lawyer who understands which parties may have caused your accident and who will work hard to hold them accountable.