What Should I Do After A Truck Accident?

Thousands of people are injured or killed every year in accidents with large trucks. Some are injured so severely their lives are permanently altered. Truck accidents that occur are often due to negligence of drivers themselves or of their employers. Our attorneys at Springer & Lyle are ready to assist you if you have been involved in an accident with a truck.

Factors Often Associated with Large Truck Accidents

Some factors that are often associated with large truck accidents include:

• Cargo may not be properly secured causing it to shift when a driver makes a turn or quickly changes lanes. Shifting cargo can cause the driver to lose control of the truck.
• Driver fatigue.
• Driver unfamiliarity with the highway.
• Traffic congestion.
• Mechanical complications, such as failing brakes.
• Blowouts causing the driver to lose control.
• Weather conditions,
• Problems with the roadway. One example is when a driver swerves to avoid debris on the road and loses control of the vehicle.

The three major driver-related causes of truck accidents are:

• Speeding. Drivers are generally on a schedule and find themselves trying to meet a deadline, so they go faster than the speed limit, or faster than is safe for the road conditions, as they struggle to arrive at their destination on time.
• Distracted. For example, talking on the phone, eating, even fidgeting with the radio.
• Failure to yield the right-of-way.

What to do if After You Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident

The best thing to do after you have a truck accident is to contact a truck accident attorney who can review the facts of your case and determine who is at fault for your accident. Trucking companies are responsible for the negligent acts of their drivers. The company may also be liable for its own negligence actions. The law requires trucking companies to be sure the drivers they hire meet certain requirements. If the company has failed to do a proper background check, they may be liable for negligent hiring.

A trucking company may also be liable if they have failed to provide the proper training for its drivers or failed to properly maintain its fleet.

Companies are also required to have its drivers keep logbooks verifying they have complied with federal regulations that apply to the amount of time drivers can drive before they must rest. Failure of a driver to keep a logbook is often evidence of negligence.

If you were injured in an accident with a truck, the attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you get the reasonable compensation you are entitled to for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.