In a motor vehicle accident, usually, it is the driver who is blamed in a majority of the cases. So, what happens if you have been in an accident with a commercial truck? You know the driver was negligent, but you are confused as to who should be held responsible, as you find out, the truck does not belong to him.
In such a case, if you do not know what needs to be done, seek the services of an auto accident attorney as they can guide you to take the right steps.
The law regarding truck accidents
It is not just accidents involving cars and bikes that are on the rise but even truck accidents. Hence, you need to know the laws and rules that deal with truck accidents. There are several federal laws regulating trucking companies declared by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). They spell out rules for the trucking industry in general and also rules to be followed in case of an accident in particular.
In case of truck accidents, multiple parties could be guilty and not always a single person. They include the driver, the truck owner, the person or company which has leased the truck, and even the manufacturer of the truck or the parts.
The law clearly states that in case of a truck accident, the company that owns the truck is to be held responsible, independent of the lease clauses.
It is helpful to know more about the rules regarding accidents involving trucks because, in a car accident, the rules are pretty straightforward. In accidents involving a truck, there are few clauses you should know.
Say, the truck you were hit by belongs to a logistics company, you can initiate action against the company, and if the company is not a direct owner but has only leased the truck for services, then the owner of the truck can be held responsible for the accident.
There is one more scenario you should be aware of. The driver may own the truck, but he was only transporting goods to a retail store for example. Then, several factors come into play such as the driver’s business, the skills required for the job, the type of work, the owner of the truck and so on to find if the driver is indeed an independent contractor or not.
Seeking compensation for a truck accident
When you are filing a claim because of the injuries you have suffered due to a truck accident, you can seek damages for the following:
Your car accident lawyer is the best person to guide on how to go about filing the claim for your case. The attorney at law can help you with gathering the evidence and even deal with the trucking company and any other party that is responsible for the accident. With the right lawyer by your side, you can get the compensation that you deserve to lead a normal life while you recuperate.
Unlike car crashes, an accident involving an 18-wheeler means the truck and the driver may not be as gravely injured as the other party. If you are a victim, then chances are that you may have suffered grievous injuries and some may have even left permanent damage. You are liable to receive compensation that will help you lead your life with dignity.
Contact a car accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Alvin de Levie today at 844-777-2529 to find out if you can file a case, and what amount you can claim for your injuries.
Alvin F. de Levie is a 1973, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a 1976 graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He is an expert in Pennsylvania Law revolving around medical malpractice and personal injury.
Mr. de Levie has consistently been voted by his peers to receive Martindale-Hubbell's "AV Preeminent" 5.0 out of 5.0 rating. An AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
