Truck accidents are among the more horrific types of motor vehicle accidents. There are increased odds of the victim ending up with a catastrophic injury after a truck accident. The size of the truck and the power it generates are two reasons why truck accidents are so devastating.
The situation is the same even in states like Bakersfield, the ninth-most populous city in California. As the city is a hub for agriculture, there is a steady stream of trucks moving in and out of the city. This raises the risk of truck accidents.
Those responsible for truck accidents must face the consequences of their actions. One way to do that is by hiring a Bakersfield commercial truck accident attorney.
A truck accident attorney brings tons of benefits. But the most important one is their ability to find the liability party.
Truck accidents are complex. There are chances that more than one party may be responsible for the accident.
Here are some of the potential liable parties in a truck accident.
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The cargo loader
- The truck mechanic
- The truck/parts manufacturer
We’ll discuss each in the sections below.
The Truck Driver
Most often than not, the truck driver is the person responsible for the accident. This is because truck drivers resort to a number of poor, unethical practices when driving. Some of the more common ones include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
- Aggressive driving
- Violating traffic laws
- Not driving according to the weather
- Speeding
The Trucking Company
The trucking company has a role to play in most accidents. They schedule multiple trips to the same driver, often encouraging them to skip breaks to complete trips. This forces drivers to
- Abuse drugs to stay awake
- Operate the truck while drowsy
- Break speed limits to complete the trip quickly
In addition to assigning tight schedules, trucking companies also ignore the maintenance of trucks to cut corners. It’s the truck driver, motorists, and pedestrians who suffer when a part wears out and the truck gets involved in an accident.
The Cargo Loader
Sometimes, the cargo the truck carries might cause an accident. This is because improperly loaded cargo tends to shift around when the truck is in motion. This may end in two ways:
- The cargo becomes completely detached and falls onto other motorists
- The truck becomes unstable as the cargo is moving around (happens when hauling heavy cargo)
Both of the possibilities above have disastrous results.
The Truck Mechanic
The truck mechanic becomes the liable party in a truck accident only if the truck has been to an auto shop recently. The mechanic has the responsibility to offer quality service. A failure in this responsibility often leads to truck accidents.
Poor service also includes improper assembly after service and using poor-quality or worn-out parts as replacements.
The Truck/Parts Manufacturer
The truck manufacturer has a role to play in some truck accidents. A manufacturing defect, either in the truck or one of the components, can cause truck accidents. In instances like this, the truck manufacturer can be held liable.
Some of the common manufacturing defects seen in trucks include:
- Brakes
- Tires
- Mirrors
- Headlights/taillights
- Steering system
- Hitches that connect the trailer to the truck
Defective replacement parts can cause accidents as well. When a newly-replaced part fails during operation, the consequences can be deadly. Defective parts are often seen in trucks that have been serviced recently.
Final Thoughts
The chances of the victim suffering a life-altering injury or losing their life are incredibly high in truck accidents. Victims are often put under enormous physical and financial stress, not to forget the emotional ones.
Finding out who the liable person was, especially when multiple parties are involved, can be an arduous task. A lawyer is pretty useful in such situations. In addition to offering assistance in finding the liable party, the lawyer will also help in calculating compensation, handling the insurance adjuster, and negotiating with the insurance company.
