Determining Liability After a Truck Accident
According to Florida’s Traffic Crash Facts, there are approximately 46,000 accidents involving commercial trucks every year and they result in 350 fatalities and another 12,200 injuries. Most of these deaths and injuries impact the drivers and other occupants of smaller passenger cars. Although you may be able to file a claim for compensation after suffering an injury due to another person’s negligence, determining liability afterward is not easy.
Unlike in standard car accidents, multiple parties may be liable for a truck accident, which makes determining fault even more difficult. Below, our Tampa truck accident attorney outlines which parties may be liable for a crash and how to determine who is at fault.
Who is Liable for a Truck Accident in Florida?
There is an extensive list of people who may be liable for a truck accident in Florida. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, these may include:
- The truck driver: Truck drivers can engage in a number of negligent acts that can cause a crash. These include driving while fatigued or distracted, speeding, impairment, and other risky driving behaviors.
- The trucking company: Trucking companies can be held liable for any negligent actions of their employees, such as truck drivers. They may negligently hire or supervise their workers, fail to train drivers properly, implement insufficient safety policies, or take shortcuts when it comes to maintaining their vehicles.
- Maintenance companies: Maintenance companies can be held liable for a crash for skipped inspections, missed tire defects, or faulty brake service.
- Manufacturers: Manufacturers that build and sell trucks and truck parts can also be held liable if they release a defective product onto the market.
- Government entities: Government entities can be held liable for truck accidents when poor signage, unsafe roads, or bad lighting causes an accident.
How to Determine Liability After a Truck Accident
Determining liability after a truck accident starts with an investigation into the crash. An attorney and their team of experts, such as private investigators, work alongside attorneys to secure pictures, video footage, witness statements, and other evidence related to the crash scene. An attorney can also obtain black box data, dash cam files, driver’s logs, and more.
An attorney will also determine if any laws or regulations were violated during an accident to determine liability. They can review police reports and other scene-related documentation to determine if state or federal trucking regulations have been violated.
When necessary, accident reconstruction experts can also examine crash profiles, skid and yaw patterns, stopping distances, and more. Mechanical experts can also analyze tires, brakes, steering, and other truck components. This can help to determine if maintenance companies or inadequate maintenance schedules contributed to a crash.
Call Our Truck Accident Attorney in Tampa for a Consultation Today
Trucking companies and other liable parties move quickly to protect their best interests. Our Tampa truck accident attorney at Moore Law will also take immediate action to investigate your case, obtain the evidence that will prove your case, and help you secure the compensation you are entitled to. Call us today at 813-510-5400 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2023.pdf
