In some cases, if you’re involved in an accident involving a semi-truck, it is just the truck driver who is at fault. For example, truck drivers are prohibited from using handheld devices while they drive. If a driver was holding their cellphone and so they lost control of the vehicle and crashed, the responsibility for that accident lies with them.
However, there are many cases in which the trucking company may also be responsible. This is important for injured parties to understand when considering liability. It can be very valuable to seek compensation from the trucking company, rather than just from the driver.
How would this happen?
Every accident is unique, but one way that this can happen is if the company has not carried out proper maintenance on their vehicles. Perhaps the driver claims they did everything they could to avoid the accident, but a major system – the steering system or the brakes – failed at the worst possible moment. If the company was negligent and didn’t maintain their vehicles, the accident may not be fully the driver’s fault.
Another example is if the company has policies that put pressure on the driver to act unsafely. For instance, a driver may have a deadline to meet and face pressure from the company to work extra hours – even after they are supposed to take a rest break. If the company pressured the driver to make these types of unsafe decisions, and that fatigued driver then caused an accident, the company may also be partially liable.
This helps to show how complex these cases can be and how there could be more than one source of compensation. If you have been injured, take the time to look into the legal options at your disposal.