Truck accident claims are very complex and determining who can be held liable is a big part of what makes them so. There may be multiple parties who can be held liable for your damages. It is rarely a straightforward issue of an at-fault driver. Trucking companies and other companies involved have many legal duties meant to keep our roads safer, and when they fail to live up to those duties, causing injuries and death, they can be held liable. To recover the full compensation you deserve, you’ll need an experienced Oregon motor vehicle accident attorney on your side.
Examples of Who May be Liable for Your Truck Accident Injuries
One or more of the following may be liable for your truck accident injuries:
- Trucking company
- Other employer or lessee
- Freight shipper
- Freight broker
- Third party logistics provider (3PL)
- Third party hired to load truck
- Third party contracted to perform maintenance or repairs
- Manufacturer or seller of defective truck
- Manufacturer or seller of defective truck part or equipment
- Government entity responsible for road design, construction, and/or maintenance
- Weigh station or weigh station personnel
- Truck driver
- Another driver whose negligence caused the accident
Trucking Companies
Trucking companies must follow strict regulations for screening, hiring, and monitoring of drivers, truck maintenance and more. They are notorious for imposing unrealistic schedules on their drivers, encouraging them to break Hour of Service (HOS) and other safety regulations. And they often cut corners, using old or poorly maintained trucks, and skipping maintenance or repairs to keep the truck on the road and more cargo.
Among the many causes of truck accidents often resulting from unrealistic schedules are:
- Mechanical failure due to overuse of truck
- Improper loading
- Inadequately secured load
- Overloaded truck
- Failure to perform pre-trip inspection
- Truck driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Driving within speed limits, but too fast for the conditions
- Intoxication
- Truck driver distraction
In order to determine who can be held liable for your truck accident injuries, we must determine all of the underlying causes, including any violations of trucking regulations. This requires thorough investigation of your accident. To learn more about compensation for your injuries, call the Law Office of J. Clay McCaslin at 503-239-1910 or contact us online right away.