Shared Liability for Your Florida Truck Accident

While it may seem like there aren’t any major differences between motor vehicle accidents, the reality is that everything from the kinds of injuries a person sustains to how a victim goes about pursuing compensation can vary depending on the type of accident in question. Collisions involving commercial vehicles, for instance, are vastly different than crashes involving passenger vehicles, not only in the severity of the resulting injuries, but also when it comes to determining liability. This is because with truck accidents, more than one party can often be held liable for a single crash, as there are multiple entities involved in trucking operations. Identifying these parties can, however, be complicated, which is why it’s so important for truck accident victims to work with an attorney when pursuing compensation for their crash-related losses.

Truck Drivers 

The first person that investigators usually look to when determining the cause of a truck accident is the driver of the truck itself. As the operator of a vehicle that could weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, truck drivers bear a great responsibility to operate their vehicles with extra care and diligence. Proof that a driver was distracted, drowsy, intoxicated, speeding, or otherwise in violation of a traffic law can all be used when attempting to recover compensation following a truck accident.

Truck Manufacturers 

Besides truck drivers, the companies responsible for manufacturing commercial vehicles (or their individual parts) can also bear responsibility for a crash that was caused by a defectively designed or manufactured part. Failing to use the requisite level of care at the design or assembly stage can result in everything from tire blowouts and mechanical failure to a malfunctioning emergency system or non-operational brakes, all of which can have catastrophic consequences for other road users.

Trucking Companies 

Commercial vehicle fleets are often managed by large trucking companies tasked with shipping a variety of cargo across the country. Companies that cut corners when it comes to hiring and training their drivers, or that violate regulations regarding vehicle inspections, keeping accurate records, and implementing hours of service rules can be held responsible for any crashes that occur as a result. Determining whether a trucking company was liable for an accident will require an in-depth investigation into the business’s practices.

Cargo Companies 

Trucking companies and their employees aren’t always responsible for actually loading the cargo that they transport, but delegate this task to cargo companies. These companies must comply with strict regulations when weighing, balancing, loading, and unloading cargo. Unfortunately, not all cargo company employees use the care that they should when loading cargo, which can result in a truck being improperly balanced and also significantly increases the chances of a rollover or other type of accident. Companies that engage in this kind of negligence can and should be held liable for their carelessness if it results in an accident.

Our Legal Team Can Help 

If you were hurt in a truck accident through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, vehicle damage, and lost wages. Call the dedicated Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorneys at Boone & Davis to learn more. You can reach us at 954-566-9919 or via online message.

Sources:

 leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.31.html

fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules