Truck accidents can cause serious injuries and damage, leaving victims with medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. To get compensation, it’s important to figure out who caused the accident. Unlike regular car accidents, truck accidents can involve more than one person being responsible, based on the circumstances.
Truck accidents involving 18-wheelers happen a lot in St. Louis because the city is strategically located as a transportation hub. It has a lot of roads, like Interstate 70 and Interstate 55, which are often used by trucks to move goods across the Midwest. If you’ve been in one of these kinds of accidents, consulting a St. Louis 18-wheeler accident attorney can help you figure out who might be at fault and make sure you get compensation.
Below are the potential parties from whom you can seek compensation after a truck accident.
Truck Driver
After an accident, the truck driver is often the first party investigated. Truck drivers could be held responsible if they were negligent and caused the accident. Examples of negligence include:
- Driving while tired or high on drugs or alcohol.
- Speeding or not following the rules of the road.
- Driving while distracted, such as talking on the phone while driving the truck.
Also, drivers need to check their trucks before trips to make sure they are safe to drive. Failing to do this may lead to accidents because of mechanical problems that could have been avoided.
Trucking Company
If trucking companies were negligent and caused the accident, they may share liability. Trucking companies can be held accountable in the following ways:
- Not regularly maintaining and inspecting their trucks.
- Forcing drivers to work more than the legal hours allowed causes accidents linked to fatigue.
- Careless hiring, such as hiring drivers who aren’t qualified or who haven’t been trained well.
Many times, trucking companies can be held liable for the acts of their workers, including truck drivers.
Cargo Loaders
A common reason for truck accidents is improperly loaded cargo. When cargo isn’t balanced, is too heavy, or isn’t properly secured, it can move around during transport, which can cause rollovers or loss of control. If another company was in charge of loading the truck, they could be held liable for any accidents that happened because of their negligence.
Truck Manufacturer
Mechanical problems, such as brakes that don’t work or tire blowouts, can cause terrible accidents. In this case, the truck maker or parts supplier could be held accountable if a flaw led to the accident. Expert analysis is often needed to prove liability because it’s not always clear whether a design flaw or a manufacturing error caused the mechanical failure.
Maintenance Providers
Some trucking companies hire third-party contractors to maintain their trucks. Poor maintenance, such as worn brakes or engine problems, could lead to an accident. The maintenance provider could be held responsible if they didn’t do their job well. It is very important to keep records of maintenance schedules and work done to prove liability.
Other Drivers or Third Parties
Truck accidents can sometimes be caused by other drivers on the road or by contractors working for a third party. For instance, if another driver is reckless, it could cause a truck to swerve and crash. Also, if road hazards like potholes or broken traffic lights played a role, the government agencies in charge of maintaining the roads could be held responsible.
