While commercial trucks usually get to and from their destination without incident, there are also times when those trucks collide with other vehicles on the road. These types of accidents are often incredibly dangerous, leaving those in smaller vehicles with severe or fatal injuries.
When a truck accident is the fault of someone else, those injured can seek compensation by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, there can be many negligent parties in a truck accident case, and truck companies often work hard to place the blame on the accident victim. On top of that, insurance companies also try to deny compensation to accident victims in many cases to keep more of their profits.
This is why it can be so important for you to speak to a personal injury attorney after suffering injury in such an accident. After a serious commercial truck crash, a St. Louis truck accident lawyer could help you file your claim, seek all damages to which you may be entitled, and pursue a positive outcome in and out of court.
Liability in a Truck Accident Case
In order to file a lawsuit for injuries sustained in a truck wreck, you must prove that another party was to blame for the accident—in other words, that someone else was negligent. Proving negligence in a personal injury suit can always be difficult, but proving negligence in a truck accident case is often much harder due to the number of parties involved.
The truck driver is often the primary party at fault for an accident, and in some cases the only one. While large trucks can be difficult to maneuver, truck drivers are still responsible for driving safely, not going over the speed limit, and making sure no vehicles are in their blind spot before changing lanes. When they fail to do so, they may be held liable for an ensuing accident.
However, if the truck driver made any of those errors because they were improperly trained, the trucking company may be at fault. Trucking companies are responsible for properly training their drivers and ensuring the driver has a proven track record of driving safely. If they fail to do any of those things, the trucking company may be found partially liable for damages associated with a crash.
Furthermore, the manufacturer of the truck, anyone who performed maintenance on it, or anyone who loaded and unloaded the truck may be held partially at fault for an accident as well. If a truck needs its brakes repaired, and the mechanic responsible for that repair does not do a proper job but allows it to go out on the roads anyway, that mechanic may be found liable for an accident that stems from a brake failure. Conversely, if those brakes were found to be mechanically defective, the truck or brake manufacturer may be found liable.
Finally, another driver may also be found liable for an accident, such as when one vehicle cuts the truck off and causes an accident that involves the truck and another vehicle. Because there are so many different parties that can be at fault for a truck accident, you need to speak to a St. Louis truck accident attorney for help identifying the negligent parties in your particular case as soon as possible.
Insurance Issues in Truck Accidents
Insurance will almost always play a part in any truck accident case. Just like if two smaller vehicles got into an accident, the insurance company representing the at-fault party—in this case, the truck driver and/or company—would have to pay benefits to those injured. However, dealing with these insurance companies can be more difficult than you might expect.
This is because defendants and their legal representation often work hard from the moment the accident occurs to the time the case is closed to prove that someone other than their driver is at fault. They may to try place blame on the victim themselves even when they know the victims did nothing wrong. They then share that information with the insurance company, which may use it to possibly withhold benefits from you, the injured party.
It can be tricky to communicate effectively with insurance companies in these scenarios, particularly when you feel as though you are being blamed for something that was not your fault. A truck accident lawyer in St. Louis could speak to the insurance company on your behalf to pursue the accident benefits you deserve.
Act Fast in Your Case: Contact a St. Louis Truck Accident Attorney Today
Trucking companies and their insurance companies are notorious for getting to crash scenes first. They want to be the first ones to get pictures, collect evidence, and understand what happened so they can begin framing the case to their benefit. If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash with a semi-truck, you need a legal team to act quickly for you.