You don't have to deal with defenses to truck accidents alone

 Posted on July 27, 2015 in Firm News

Accidents involving tractor trailers can be among the most catastrophic on the road due to size of trucks, the potential for cargo spills and the often devastating injuries suffered by victims.

While the chaos of a crash will eventually pass and everything will get cleared up, the physical and emotional toll of these crashes can linger on long after an accident. This is why many people choose to seek compensation after a truck crash.

Filing a lawsuit in light of these types of accidents can be an effective way to get the financial resources necessary to cope with the considerable adjustments that need to be made afterward. This can be a difficult process, especially because there are a number of ways that truckers and/or trucking companies may try to avoid responsibility. Below are a few common defenses.

• Trucker blames driver: A trucker may claim that the victim did something like cut off the truck, followed too closely or swerved over a lane line and the driver's actions, not the trucker's, caused the crash.
• Trucker denies negligence: Even if the crash appears to be the trucker's fault, he or she may claim it couldn't have been prevented.
• Trucking company claims trucker is an independent contractor: This may be a defense in cases where trucking companies don't want to be held accountable for the actions of the driver. Distancing themselves in this way is an attempt to avoid being on the hook for financial damages.

It can be enormously upsetting for victims to hear these defenses; but it can be even more difficult to challenge them without an attorney.

With the help of an attorney, truck accident victims and their families can work to reconstruct the crash, collect log books and cellphone records, examine hiring documents and maintenance records, and track down witness statements.

If you or a loved one has recently been injured in an accident with a truck, it can be crucial to speak with an attorney who can help you build a case against the appropriate parties and pursue compensation. For information on our law firm's approach to these types of cases, please visit our website.