Establishing liability is one of the factors that make truck accidents complicated. It’s natural to believe a truck driver is at fault for an accident because they operate the vehicle. While this might be the case, another party could also be answerable.
Here are three parties that could be responsible for a truck accident:
1. Trucking company
If a trucking company hires an inexperienced driver, fails to train them regularly or doesn’t perform background checks, they may be at fault for an accident their driver causes.
Pressuring drivers to meet major goals within tight deadlines, having unreliable schedules and not maintaining trucks are other factors that can make a trucking company liable for an accident.
2. Cargo loaders
Trucking companies work with loaders to load and unload cargo. If a loader fails to load or secure cargo properly, an accident can happen.
For example, if they overload a truck, a driver might have a hard time controlling the truck’s extreme weight. And this can lead to loss of control. Further, if cargo is not firmly secured, it can fall off. A vehicle following the truck may not have enough time to react safely – they may hit the fallen object.
If an accident occurs due to a loading fault, you can hold the loader responsible.
3. Manufacturer
A manufacturer may be a liable party if a defect in the truck or one of its parts causes an accident. Truck and auto parts manufacturers must test their products extensively before selling them.
If you are involved in a truck accident, you should get legal help to determine liability and receive just compensation.