Venice Truck Accident Attorney
We are seeing more and more commercial trucks on the road, as the interstate shipping industry continues to grow. While this may mean that we have more access to a wider range of products on a regular basis, it also means that motorists are more at risk of being involved in a truck accident. In 2017, for instance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revealed that more than 170,000 people were injured in collisions with commercial vehicles that year alone. These numbers are particularly alarming when you consider how much more severe the injuries sustained in these types of collisions tend to be, with many resulting in permanent disability or disfigurement, and in some tragic cases, even death.
Treating truck accident injuries tends to be a painful, time-consuming, and expensive process, which can place a significant financial strain on victims and their families, so if you were recently injured in an accident with a commercial truck, it is important to speak with an experienced Venice truck accident attorney who can help you seek compensation from the at-fault parties.
Truck Driver Error
Commercial trucks are extremely large and heavy and often carry dangerous or hazardous cargo, so it makes sense that the federal government would require truck drivers to obtain special training, certification, and licensing. Unfortunately, truck drivers still can and do make errors. According to the FMCSA, for instance, of single and multi-vehicle collisions, in which trucks are involved, around 55 percent can be attributed to truck driver error. Of the truck accidents in which another passenger vehicle was involved, around 44 percent are attributable to truck driver error, such as:
- Running out of the travel lane, either into another lane or off of the road entirely;
- Losing control of a vehicle after traveling too fast for the conditions;
- Colliding with the rear-end of another vehicle after swerving, tailgating, or driving aggressively;
- Exercising poor directional control;
- Inattention or distraction;
- Driving while intoxicated;
- Falling asleep at the wheel; and
- Violating traffic laws.
Vehicle system failure and poor road conditions have also been found to be significant contributors to collisions between truck drivers and other motorists.
Liable Parties
When a truck driver’s error results in an injury, he or she could be held liable for accident-related medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Other potentially liable parties include:
- The driver’s employer, if it forced the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines or failed to provide adequate training and oversight;
- The truck’s owner if it failed to ensure that its vehicles were safe and properly maintained;
- A mechanic who failed to properly inspect or repair a vehicle;
- A vehicle part manufacturer that used an improper design, failed to assemble a part properly, or failed to test the vehicle adequately; or
- Another driver who initiated a multi-vehicle collision, in which the truck was involved.
While it is possible that any one of these individuals or entities could be held singly liable for the entirety of an accident, it is not uncommon in these kinds of cases for more than one party to be held partially responsible for a crash.
Call Today for Legal Help
Please call 941-735-4529 to learn more about your legal options following an accident from the experienced Venice truck accident lawyers at Hale Law.
