We Protect The Injured.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Trucking accidents increasing in the past two decades comes as no surprise as trucking companies and their truck drivers are under constant pressure to meet deadlines and deliver their cargo on time. When companies begin to put profit over consumer safety, it is drivers and pedestrians just like you who end up with severe losses. The bottom line is, somewhere along the way, somebody made a mistake and now you’re left with injuries.

The common causes of truck collisions include:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Reckless driving
• Equipment failure
• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Parts failure
• Dangerous road conditions

Determining Liability

A determination of who is responsible for an automobile accident, or accident liability, is the essential first step in representing an injured individual.

In a truck accident, liability can fall on one or more of the following parties:

• Truck driver - for errors such as fatigued driving, drunk driving, speeding, unsafe lane changes, texting while driving, and other reckless driving habits
• Trucking company - for inadequate training, poor hiring practices, failure to perform regular maintenance, or even failing to conduct background checks for its drivers
• Loading company - if a vehicle was overloaded or improperly loaded, this can cause debris to scatter, delay braking, and diminish maneuverability of a vehicle. Unevenly loaded trucks can cause rollover accidents.
• Auto manufacturer - truck defects such as brake failure and tire blowouts can cause serious rear-end accidents, which is why it is so important to have regular vehicle checks to identify defects early

Trucking Insurance Requirements

State and federal laws require that commercial trucks be insured at or above the legal minimum.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, trucks are required to have insurance minimums of:

• $300,000 for vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or less carrying non-hazardous cargo
• $750,000 for vehicles weighing more than 10,000lbs carrying non-hazardous cargo
• $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 for trucks carrying hazardous cargo

Although these amounts may seem like a lot, they are rarely sufficient to cover damages caused to victims, who often suffer from catastrophic injuries.

Truck Accidents Investigations

Investigating a truck accident may require review of:

• A truck’s black box – which records data such as a truck’s speed, braking, acceleration, and other data regarding the truck’s operation.
• Police reports
• Crash scene evidence
• Witness statements
• Truck maintenance logs
• Truck activity log and driver time behind wheel
• Cargo reports
• Employee records
• Employee procedure manuals

Trucking companies would rarely willingly provide company records for examination. We may need to request that companies release such information through a court order, which means it is crucial that you have a strong attorney with you through the legal battle.