No car accident should be taken lightly, but accidents involving 18 wheeler trucks and other large commercial vehicles are far more catastrophic than most. Unfortunately, these types of accidents aren’t rare, either. In fact, the United States Department of Transportation estimates that approximately 500,000 accidents involving large commercial trucks occur each year. Upwards of 10,000 of these accidents happen in Alabama alone. While this is still much lower than the average rate of car crashes, the likelihood of commercial trucks causing severe damage or death is much higher. Unfortunately, since many of these big trucks are commercially-backed, pursuing compensation in Tuscaloosa, AL, can seem like an impossible uphill battle. However, with help from experienced attorneys, the process of establishing corporate responsibility in trucking accidents can be managed. You can expect to get the compensation you need at the end of the process.
The Issue of Responsiblity
Understanding why accidents involving 18 wheelers happen is the key to establishing corporate responsibility. Whether the truck's driver cornered poorly or executed an improper lane change, it all boils down to one thing: not paying attention to the road. This is often due to a lack of sleep, as corporate drivers are quite often kept on strict schedules under threat of loss of pay, which means a loss of sleep and too many hours behind the wheel. This, in turn, leads to a lack of good judgment and, ultimately, the cause of serious accidents. However, that’s not to say that corporate entities behind trucks are always responsible. Driver error can be attributed to operator error in many cases, such as:
-
Aggressive driving
-
Drug or alcohol use behind the wheel
-
Excessive speed
-
Eating while driving
-
Using a mobile phone for talking or texting while driving
This phenomenon isn’t just limited to drivers working for specific corporations. Self-employed drivers for hire are also affected by these time constraints because they are typically paid by the mile. They try to rush trips and complete as many miles as possible in order to turn a profit. When drivers are sleep deprived, mistakes are bound to happen. Unfortunately, mistakes made behind the wheel of a corporate truck can be devastating for the other drivers around them.
Corporate Responsibility
It is true that driver fatigue is the top cause of truck accidents, but finding concrete proof to legally show which party is responsible for an accident is a bit more complicated than simply pointing to statistics. Though the driver could be at fault, there’s also a strong possibility that the corporation hiring the driver could be responsible for the incident. Instances where this might be true include accidents that involved:
-
Undertrained drivers
-
Poorly maintained trucks
-
Overweighted trucks
-
Poor scheduling on the part of the hiring company
Establishing whether a corporate entity or an individual operator is responsible for any given accident is a challenge. You cannot peer behind the curtain to see the cause of driver fatigue or incompetency that caused an accident in which you were involved; it’s always a good idea to work with lawyers for establishing corporate responsibility in trucking accidents. With investigation, they can find the true cause of your accident to ensure you’re pursuing the right party to get the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.
Filing a Lawsuit
Only once the responsible party has been determined can you begin filing a lawsuit. Throughout the process, you may be able to sue for financial compensation on a wide range of issues, such as:
-
Pain and suffering
-
Mental and emotional anguish
-
Lost wages due to missed work
-
Medical bills
-
Damage to vehicles
-
Various financial burdens accrued due to the accident
Truck accidents can be devastating, often resulting in severe injury or death. Getting proper compensation from the responsible party is the bare minimum you deserve as a victim of one of these accidents.
Contact Us
Establishing who is to blame in a trucking accident may be a challenge, but at Prince Glover Hayes, we try to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us if you’ve recently been the victim of a trucking accident in Tuscaloosa, AL, and we’ll work hard to not only find the truth of the matter but also to build a case that will get you the financial relief you deserve in the aftermath.
Image Credits: Shutterstock/ ViewApart