Truck accidents often cause extensive damage to drivers who are in vehicles smaller than tractor trailers, and the idea of suing a trucking company for those damages can be intimidating.
The Kingston truck accident attorneys of Basch & Keegan LLP are here to help you recover fair compensation for your collision-related injuries and damages. We are available to discuss the details of your case.
Complete our contact form or call (845) 251-4545 24/7 to schedule a free consultation with our legal team.
Many of the reckless driving behaviors that contribute to car accidents can cause truck accidents as well. For example, distracted driving and driver fatigue are often the cause of truck accidents. However, tractor trailer operation also presents risks that are unique to truck accidents. Any negligence in a trucking company’s operations or the actions of a truck driver can be a cause of collisions.
Some common causes of tractor trailer and truck accidents include:
General reckless driving
Distracted driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
Overweight or hazardous cargo
Driver fatigue / Hours of Service violations
Maintenance and repair issues
Defective vehicle parts
Road conditions
Negligent hiring and training
Other safety violations
As you can see, many of the most common causes of tractor trailer and truck accidents are factors that are out of the driver’s control. In these cases, who is liable for resulting damages?
Trucking companies are almost always involved in accident cases involving their drivers. A driver’s employer may be directly at fault for collisions resulting from safety violations, too-demanding schedules, or instances in which a driver was hired despite inexperience or a history of reckless driving.
Although drivers are often ultimately responsible for causing collisions, the cause of those collisions can often be attributed to the negligence of employers. Even in cases in which a driver is almost completely responsible for a truck accident — such as in cases of distracted driving or DUI — trucking companies are involved in litigation. Oftentimes, they have large legal teams and insurance providers to back them up.
Third parties may be liable for tractor trailer accidents in some instances. In cases in which poor vehicle or road maintenance is to blame, the people responsible for maintaining a truck or the road could be found at fault. If parties who are responsible for investigating and regulating the safety or trucking companies fall short, resulting in an accident, they may be liable for damages.
Trucking companies often maintain extensive records of their business. These records can be useful if you are injured in a truck accident. Additionally, tractor trailers often have devices that track the use of the vehicles, such as the “black box,” which records data on a truck’s operations.
The following pieces of evidence may be useful in your truck or tractor trailer accident case:
Photographs of the accident scene
Photographs of your injuries
Medical records
Bills
Evidence of your time off work and lost wages
Traffic surveillance footage
Witness accounts
Black box data from the tractor trailer
Hiring documents from the trucking company
Safety violation records
Hours of Service records, trip logs, and GPS data
Police report
We offer around-the-clock support to people who have been injured by the negligence of truck drivers, their employers, and third parties. During a free consultation, you can discuss your unique circumstances with our experienced lawyers and learn how we can help you.
Our team can be contacted 24/7 via phone at (845) 251-4545, as well as through our online form. Reach out to us to schedule a free consultation with our tractor trailer and truck accident attorneys in Kingston.
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