It comes as no surprise to anyone that trucks are everywhere. Therefore, no matter how careful a driver you are, the possibility of having an accident with one is not a rare occurrence. But as opposed to an accident where another car is involved, being in a wreck with a truck that weighs that much more can easily turn even a simple crash into something unimaginable. If this has happened to you or to a loved one, you have probably experienced the stress and life-changing consequences of such an event.
What are the main reasons trucks get into so many accidents?
Studies have revealed that distracted driving is the main reason why these accidents happen. But the list is long and there are many other culprits in it, such as:
- Texting while driving
- Aggressive driving
- Being unfamiliar with the route
- Personal health issues
- Vision problems
- Driving too many hours
- Failure to watch blind spots
- Failure to obey traffic signs and speed limits
Other problems that lead to truck accidents cannot be overstated and they are:
Insufficient or inadequate training – Failure to teach a truck driver certain driving techniques, how to drive with safety in mind, and the importance of driving defensively.
Extreme tiredness – Drivers that are scheduled to spend too many hours on the road while being expected to move quickly from one destination to another, end up driving while extremely fatigued. There are trucking companies that actually encourage drivers to be on the road with little sleep, drive more miles, and make more deliveries, with the enticement of higher pay.
On the other hand, it would be impossible to believe that in not a single truck accident the driver of the other vehicle is at fault. Sometimes truck drivers get into accidents because:
- There is a disabled vehicle not properly placed on the shoulder and thus is blocking part of the road
- There are cars speeding between two moving large trucks
- Drivers make sudden, unexpected maneuvers in front of a truck
- Entering the road from an on-ramp and not accelerating enough when there is a truck coming
- Moving to the right of a truck that is making a right turn
- Trying to make a left turn in front of a truck and misjudging the truck’s speed
- Being unaware of a truck’s change of speed when they start changing lanes or try to merge
Who can be held liable when there is an accident that involves a truck?
At the time of the accident, the last thing on your mind was probably trying to find out who the responsible party might be. However, working with a truck accident lawyer can solve this problem and help ensure that claims are made against whoever turns out to be responsible, which could be:
- The driver
- Whoever owns the truck
- The manufacturer of the truck
- The manufacturer of the brakes
- The loader
- The party responsible for the vehicle’s maintenance
What can you expect from a truck accident lawsuit?
The fact that the truck is large and heavy and the car is smaller, does not necessarily translate into an open and shut case where the bigger vehicle is at fault every time. As a matter of fact, these lawsuits are extremely complex. If your lawyer files a lawsuit, it could be against the driver, the trucking company, and their insurance providers. In return, these defendants mount very aggressive defense cases. They are aware that the insurance liability limits for a truck are high and the amount of money at issue can be quite substantial.
Don’t Wait to File
The statute of limitations in Florida for these accidents is two years from when they happened. You want your attorney to have enough time to conduct thorough research and build a strong case. You don’t want to give the trucking company time to destroy the trip recorder which has information about that day. An accident reconstruction specialist may also be called upon to help determine what happened.
To learn more about your rights after a truck accident, you may consult fasigbrooks.com. An initial consultation will give you the opportunity to explain your case and talk about the options available to you.
