The Aftermath of a Truck Accident

Large trucks pose a serious hazard on the road, particularly to smaller vehicles. Data reported in 2020 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 4,965 people were killed and roughly 146,930 people were injured in accidents involving large trucks. Most fatalities and injuries were sustained by people in the other vehicles.

Determining Fault in Truck Accidents

Even though the occupants of smaller vehicles are more vulnerable during a crash with a large truck, a thorough investigation is always necessary to determine fault. After a collision with a large truck, the following are some of the issues that need to be investigated:

Violations of Traffic Law

The behavior and accident history for the truck driver and the company they work for will need to be looked into. The behavior of the passenger vehicle driver will also be scrutinized. First and foremost: was anyone driving while intoxicated or violating traffic law (e.g. speeding)? It’s also necessary to look into the potential for logbook violations–a truck driver in violation of Hours-of-Service regulations (HOS) could be driving fatigued as a result of lack of sleep.

Taking Preventative Measures

For example, drivers who are hit while making a left turn are often held liable for an accident, as they need to make a judgment call about when it’s safe to turn; however, if their vehicle experiences a mechanical failure as they’re turning (or the driver who hits them has failed to obey a traffic signal or violated other traffic laws), their share in the fault might be reduced.

Mechanical or Structural Deficiencies

If an accident resulted in part from a poorly maintained or manufactured vehicle component, who is responsible? With large trucks, other problems might arise from improperly loaded cargo, which could spill out onto the road and cause additional damages during a crash.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you have been involved in a truck accident, we encourage you to contact the Indiana Truck Accident Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham today. Regardless of who was at fault for the crash, you may be struggling with steep medical bills or costly vehicle repairs. We will carefully review what happened during the crash, provide you with invaluable advice, and advocate for you as you deal with insurance companies and possible civil litigation. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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