When people are looking to hire vehicle accident lawyers, it’s actually an everyday occurrence but hiring truck accident injury lawyers are a very different thing. You see, if you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you need to hire truck accident injury lawyers who specialize in your specific personal injury case.
Unlike vehicle accidents, the laws for truck accidents are different and you need to contact truck accident injury lawyers as fast you possibly can. Also, if you expect to receive compensation for your injuries, you need to know who’s responsible for that. The article below by Joseph Devine sheds some light on exactly who’s liable for paying your insurance claim. Hopefully, you find the information helpful.
Who Is Liable for Truck Accident Injuries?
Truck accidents, when they occur, leave a trail of destruction behind them. This is because these multi-ton machines, moving at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour, create a force that is unmatched by any other vehicle that is on our roads. 18-wheeler accidents are becoming more common every day. This is due to the increased need for goods to be delivered every day. On top of which, the trucks are moving at a faster pace than ever before. These two items combined are pushing the trucking industry to its limits. The main question that occurs following an injury accident that involves an 18-wheeler is “Who is liable?” In many cases, there are a number of people that can be liable for the injury.
The Driver
The most common individual to be liable for an injury is the driver of the 18-wheeler. In most cases, the individual driver will, as a minimum, be named in the lawsuit. This is because the driver is the one to have supposedly caused the injuries that were the result of the accident.
The important pieces of information in your case regarding the liability of the driver are if the driver was an employee of a major trucking company, if the driver was driving his or her private truck on their own, or if the driver was driving for a major hauling company but as an independent contractor. Each of these situations could make a difference as to who will be liable ultimately for your injuries.
The Trucking Company
The other key person that could be liable is the company for whom the truck driver is working. This is only applicable if the driver is working as an employee of that company. It is important to note that working for a major company may not be enough to bring the trucking company into the case. The truck driver, in many cases, needs to have been driving their truck when it hits an individual’s car in a way that is directly related to a job. Specifically, the truck driver in many cases cannot have been driving the truck on his own. There needs to have been a load in the trailer or going to or from the loading dock. If these situations are not met, the trucking company, in many instances, will leave the truck driver out on his or her own.
All of this comes down to is insurance. Depending on who is named as liable for the accident, an individual will be covered by either the truck driver’s insurance plan or the carrier’s plan. If the driver is operating of his own accord, he will have his own insurance plan that will most likely cover injuries and damages to a certain dollar amount. If the driver was operating the vehicle as an employee of a trucking company, then the trucking company’s insurance policy will, in most cases, be a party to any lawsuit as well.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine
As you can see, when it comes to truck accidents, things can get a little more complicated. And who better able to help you navigate these waters than truck accident injury lawyers? Just remember that truck accidents aren’t like vehicle accidents and you really should contact truck accident injury lawyers as soon as you can so you don’t create a problem for your claim.
NEXT SEE: How to Choose the Best Truck Accident Injury Lawyer for You