The 10 Scariest Things About Trucking Accident Lawyer
Trucking Accidents Attorney If you or someone you love was injured in a collision with a truck, you may be entitled compensation. This could include medical costs as well as lost wages and property damage. In order to file a claim for compensation you must prove that someone else was responsible for your accident due to negligence. It is also necessary to prove that you sustained economic and non-economic losses. The Law Requires Trucking Companies to Maintain Detailed Records Trucking companies must keep detailed documents on a variety of issues. This includes vehicle maintenance as well as safety reports, driver logs and inspections. Infractions to federal regulations can cost a business much. It's a good idea start with a detailed record-keeping system. You'll be able to save much time in the future. The IRS states that keeping accurate records is a crucial business practice that can result in increased productivity as well as a decrease in risk. In the event of an accident involving a truck, the records that a motor carrier keeps may play an important part in determining who's at the fault. They can show if the truck driver violated company policies or procedures or if they failed follow federal guidelines for hours of service. In addition to keeping detailed documents, a trucking company must also perform background investigations on drivers. These investigations include a driver's history with the state in which they were licensed, their safety performance history, as well as their employment background. Using this information can help the trucking company avoid hiring inexperienced, potentially unsafe drivers. It also helps the trucking company avoid being held liable for an accident it caused. truck accident attorney in illinois Accident Injury Lawyers Claims -organized and well-maintained record-keeping system lets motor carriers easily access the information when it's time to file the annual compliance report. This is particularly useful for small companies that operate from home and aren't in a place to go to the office to keep track of their paperwork. If you are involved with an incident involving commercial trucking it is recommended to seek the counsel of an attorney with expertise in handling high-risk and complicated cases. A skilled lawyer fighting for your rights will ensure you receive fair and fair compensation. Contact our team today to discuss your case. Companies that transport equipment can be held responsible for malfunctioning equipment If you're involved in a trucking collision caused by faulty equipment, you could be held responsible for the damages. This is referred to as strict liability. It is important to note that this type of liability can only be established after establishing that the truck driver, or trucking company was negligent or in any way did not meet the standard of reasonable care. For example when a trucking company fails to conduct regular maintenance on its vehicles, it could be liable for any accident caused by this failure. This includes checking the brakes, tires, and other components to make sure they are in good working order and functioning properly. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration establishes specific regulations for the maintenance and inspection of trucks. These standards are designed to ensure that large vehicles are safe on the roads and prevent numerous issues from developing. In some cases, a manufacturer may be held accountable for a hazard caused by defective equipment. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that the parts they supply to trucking companies work and are safe. If an industry manufacturer recalls a product or a system that is unsafe, they have an obligation to inform their customers as soon as they are able to. Once the information has been communicated, any person involved in the supply chain that works with the same owners of trucks could be ordered to stop using the defective component or system. This is especially true when the manufacturer is aware of an issue and is willing to fix it. For instance, if a manufacturer is aware that there is the possibility of an explosion if a component is used in a specific application, it could be held liable if they fail to fix that defect or issue a warning to its customers. Another example of faulty equipment could be when cargo loads aren't secured correctly. This could cause the cargo to shift and fall from the truck, which could result in an accident. Trucking Companies Could Be Responsible for Faulty Maintenance When a trucking company does not take care of the trucks in their fleet, it can put its drivers and other motorists on the road at risk. Therefore, it's essential that trucking companies focus on regular maintenance of their fleets. The law requires that trucking companies check their fleets for signs of problems before they let them out on the road. Failure to do this could result in serious accidents, injuries or even death. Additionally, the trucking company is also responsible for properly hiring and training its drivers so they can safely operate big trucks on the road. They must conduct background checks on the driver to confirm that they are not guilty of any criminal charges or have had any driving violations in the past. After the trucker is hired, the company has to provide the proper training. The trucking firm must also keep in the loop the hours its drivers are driving per day and per week. They are also supposed to ensure that their drivers don't travel beyond the maximum hours permitted under federal regulations. Inadequately keeping track of drivers' hours can lead to severe trucking accidents. In fact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently issued a regulation that mandates that all trucking companies adopt electronic logbooks to force drivers to follow the rules regarding hours of service. When a company's employees are not in compliance with these regulations, they can be held liable for trucking accidents caused by driver fatigue. The FMCSA regulates how long truck drivers are allowed to drive during each weekday and requires that they have breaks before returning to the road. In the same way, trucking companies could be held responsible for inefficient loading practices, too. For instance, if a shipping company fails to properly train its employees on how to load cargo safely and correctly, they could be accountable for any injuries that occur due to shifting cargo during transport. An Indiana trucking accident lawyer will help you determine if you were involved in a collision with an industrial vehicle or a different vehicle and seek compensation for your losses. Consult an attorney as soon after your accident as is possible to understand your options and rights. Trucking companies could be held accountable for the conduct of drivers Trucking companies are accountable to ensure that their drivers have the required qualifications and safety. They must also ensure that their drivers are properly trained. Inability to do this could lead to serious accidents or injuries. Additionally, trucking firms must maintain their vehicles on time and make sure they're in good shape. This could include performing regular maintenance as well as fixing and replacing damaged components. If the company's trucks are not maintained in a timely manner and an accident occurs the company could be held responsible for the damages caused by the accident. Drivers are often stressed out by the demands of their jobs and may experience a lack of sleep or time to take care of themselves. This stress can lead to different behaviors that can increase the chance of an accident. For example, if a trucking company requires its drivers to work for longer hours than is safe, or schedules their driving for unsuitable times, the company could be liable for any accidents that happen. If a trucking firm has a mistake in hiring a driver that has an history of abuse of drugs or if they don't conduct proper background checks the company may be held responsible for any accidents that occur due to. A company could be held accountable for any accidents caused by a failure to perform proper maintenance or inspections on the truck's brakes, tires, steering wheels. A company could be held accountable for any injuries or fatalities that result from an accident caused by a truck that was not properly inspected or maintained. Additionally, if the company's drivers aren't taking safety precautions to avoid an accident, such as not wearing seat belts, or failing to check their speed, the company could be held accountable for any injuries that may occur as a result. The trucking company may be held accountable if a driver violates the rules and leads to an incident. If you've been injured during a collision with an enormous commercial vehicle it is important to consult an experienced trucking accidents attorney right away. This will assist you in gathering the evidence needed to prove your case and make sure that the trucking company is held accountable for the damage you sustained.