Who Is Responsible for a Tractor Trailer Accident?

December 18, 2018

Accidents involving large commercial trucks often cause devastating injury, simply due to the size of the truck which is much larger than even the largest SUV on the road. When you’re involved in an accident with a tractor trailer, the stakes are often higher than accidents involving only regular passenger vehicles, and it can be complex to determine liability.

The best way to determine who is responsible for your injuries from a tractor trailer accident is to call Louisville personal injury lawyer Karl Truman at 502-306-0709 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Liability in Commercial Truck Accidents

The responsibility for a truck accident lies in who was acting negligently. If the trucker is at fault, common reasons for causing an accident include:

• Drowsy driving. Many long-haul truckers work long, tiring shifts and don’t get enough sleep, leading to decreased reaction times and even falling asleep at the wheel.
• Impaired driving. Unfortunately, to cope with the stresses of driving, drivers will sometimes turn to drugs and alcohol.
• Inexperience. If the truck driver is too inexperienced to handle such a large vehicle, they may be held liable. Their employer may also be held liable for assigning them a route they couldn’t handle.

While it’s tempting to always blame the truck driver when an accident happens, it’s not always the case that the larger vehicle is responsible. Drivers of smaller cars and trucks often act recklessly around tractor trailers, impatiently trying to pass or driving too close to the truck. If you drive too close to a tractor trailer, chances are high that the driver can’t even see you. It’s your responsibility to be aware of your surroundings and give large trucks the berth they need.

In some cases, multiple parties may be held liable for a truck accident. Cases where this could happen include:

• A negligent trucking company who hired a driver without a proper background check or demonstration of experience
• A negligent mechanic shop who cleared a tractor trailer for use when it clearly wasn’t ready or still had parts in ill repair
• A negligent manufacturer who failed to issue a recall on faulty parts of a truck or car

Should You Call a Lawyer for a Tractor Trailer Accident?

An experienced personal injury lawyer with extensive resources to perform an investigation can help you navigate the complex world of tractor trailer accidents. If you don’t bother to call a lawyer, you could end up with compensation well below what you need and deserve.

Karl Truman has experience helping both commercial truck drivers when the car driver was at fault, and helping the car driver when the commercial truck driver was at fault. He knows the ins and outs of the law regarding commercial trucking regulations, and he has the experience necessary to get the heart of an accident and determine liability.

Schedule Your Tractor Trailer Accident Consultation Today

If you have been injured in an accident with a tractor trailer, call Karl Truman today at 502-306-0709 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We serve clients in Louisville, Kentucky and Jeffersonville, Indiana, as well as surrounding areas.