Woodland Hills Truck Accident Lawyers Fighting For Justice

In an accident involving two small passenger vehicles, determining fault and, thus, liability is often fairly straightforward. One of the drivers involved is usually at fault and on the scene. After a truck accident though, liability may lie with one or multiple parties, and those individuals are not always apparent right away. This makes it much more difficult to determine which party to file your claim against. The potentially liable parties in a truck accident claim may include:

• The truck driver. Even though they are responsible for ensuring they operate their large vehicle in a safe manner, truck drivers often act negligently. They may become distracted as they navigate the systems within their truck, or they may drive while impaired to help them stay awake. These are just a few types of truck driver negligence that can result in a crash.
• The trucking company. Trucking companies often prioritize their own profits over the safety of other motorists on the road. They may take shortcuts by not complying with federal law, such as the hours-of-service rule, or by not properly inspecting and maintaining their fleet of trucks.
• Maintenance and inspection companies. Trucking companies are expected to perform inspections and maintenance, but they often hire outside companies for these services. If those maintenance and inspection companies do not properly perform their job, defective equipment could cause a crash, for which the company would be liable.
• Loading companies. The cargo on a commercial truck must be properly secured. If it is not, it can shift during transport, throwing off the truck’s balance. Truck drivers do not always load and unload their own cargo, and when a third party has done it improperly, they can be held liable.
• Manufacturers. All manufacturers, including companies that manufacture trucks and truck parts, are responsible for ensuring their products are safe for consumers to use. When a truck or part of its equipment is defective and causes a crash, injured parties can hold the manufacturer liable.

Determining liability is one of the most difficult aspects of any crash involving a commercial truck. It is not uncommon for one truck accident claim to involve multiple liable parties, which makes a case more complex but also allows accident victims to claim the full damages they are entitled to. A Woodland Hills truck accident attorney can determine all the parties at fault in your crash, so you recover a full and fair settlement.