When a person is involved in an accident with a commercial truck, they often have no idea where to begin. They may know that a personal injury claim is in their best interest, but who should they sue? The driver of the truck? The owner of the truck? The trucking company the driver worked for? What about the company that loaded the truck the day of the accident? Any of these can potentially be parties in a personal injury lawsuit.
We have provided basic information below so that you know what your options are. However, we encourage you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 at your earliest convenience. We provide free legal consultations and can give you the specific answers you need.
The various types of trucking accidents
The first thing to understand is that there are various types of trucking accidents and they are not all identical. Each one should be handled differently because they are different. For example, an accident with a big rig is not the same as an accident with an industrial truck. Other types of trucking accidents including tractor trailers, 18-wheelers, dump trucks, a delivery truck (such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.) and a garbage truck.
While it may seem as though the way these would be handled is similar, the truth is that different types of vehicles have different safety standards. The larger a truck is, the more damage it is likely to cause, even if the accident occurs at low speeds. In most cases, accidents involving commercial trucks involve injuries, whether a broken bone, brain injury, or a spinal cord injury.
You can get hit in a variety of ways
Not only are there many different types of trucks you can become involved in an accident with, but there are many ways that accident can happen. For example, you could pull up at a red light and be hit from behind by a truck. You could be going through an intersection and be hit by a truck. A trailer could tip over and cause an accident, or it could jackknife and do the same. You might even become involved in an accident due to cargo falling into the streets and highway.
Proving liability
No matter what type of truck accident you were involved in, if you are going to win a personal injury case then you must be able to prove who was liable. In some cases, there may be more than one party who can be held accountable. For example, if the driver of the truck was speeding, but the actual accident was mostly a result of the trailer being loaded improperly, then the company that loaded the trailer and the driver could both be held accountable.
The easiest way to find out who is responsible for an accident is to contact a personal injury attorney. just call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for your free legal consultation. We can offer our general advice on your options and work closely to find the best way forward.
