Can You Sue the Trucking Company for Your Accident Injuries?

Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car in the United States only weighs about 4,000 pounds. It’s no wonder that when a truck and car collide, there are devastating effects. 

Trucks require regular maintenance, inspections, and careful driving to keep everyone safe on the road. While drivers and companies may take precautions, accidents happen; far too many do not.  These accidents end with life-altering injuries and irreversible property damage. 

Contact a Texas or New Mexico truck accident lawyer if you or a loved one have been in a trucking accident. When these events happen, you’ll likely want someone to blame. A variety of parties could be liable, including the trucking company. 

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

If you want to sue a trucking company for your accident injuries, you first need to determine the cause of the accident. 

Truck driving errors are commonly the cause of truck accidents. Some trucking companies may reward drivers for earlier arrival times, incentivizing them to drive without adequate breaks. This leads to driver fatigue. 

If drivers are tired, they’re more likely to make mistakes like speeding, following cars too closely, or not checking their blind spots before making lane changes. 

Similarly, if a trucking company does not ensure a driver has adequate experience operating a truck before putting them on the road, they may be responsible for an accident. 

Improper maintenance or loading are more common reasons for trucking accidents. These mistakes are usually made by the loading or trucking company. Federal regulations expect trucking companies to use maintenance services regularly to ensure the vehicle’s safety.

Determining Liability in a Truck Accident

To establish whether or not you can sue a trucking company for your accident injuries, you must consider all possible liable parties.

There are more parties in a trucking accident than most realize. Liable parties for a trucking accident may include:

• Driver
• Company 
• Cargo company 
• Brokers
• Dispatchers 
• Maintenance company
• Truck manufacturer
• Other drivers in the accident

Determining liability can be complex because of all the factors in an accident. Contact a Texas or New Mexico truck accident lawyer for assistance.

How To Sue a Trucking Company for Your Accident Injuries

You can sue a trucking company for your accident if:

• The company didn’t properly screen the driver
• The company hired a driver with a poor driving record
• The company implicitly or explicitly encouraged its drivers to disobey traffic laws
• The company failed to evaluate the condition of the truck
• The company failed to supervise the driver
• The company didn’t properly train the driver
• The company violated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines

Being in a trucking accident is frightening, and you may not be thinking straight immediately after. 

However, it’s important to contact the police, seek and record medical treatment, and collect evidence after the accident. These all provide proof of liability and damage done, increasing your chances of collecting compensation.

What Damages Can You Sue a Trucking Company For?

If the court finds the trucking company liable for your accident, you can claim economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages include car repair costs, medical bills, and lost wages. Non-economic damages account for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and punitive damages. Texas and New Mexico truck accident lawyers help victims of trucking accidents seek fair settlements. 

Injured in a Truck Accident? Contact Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., To File Your Truck Accident Claim

Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. has been providing personal injury representation since 1984. We cover a range of practice areas but are consistent in our excellent customer service.

Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in injury cases, including truck accidents.  Call 800-433-2408 to begin a case review today.