When an 80,000-pound semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the consequences are often catastrophic. And while you might think it’s just like any other vehicle accident claim, truck accidents involve unique challenges and regulations that can significantly impact your case.
Here are three critical differences that make truck accident claims more complex than typical car accidents:
1. Multiple Liable Parties
Unlike car accidents where fault is relatively straightforward, truck accidents create a complex web of liability. The trucking industry involves numerous parties working together to keep trucks on the road, and any of them could share responsibility for your accident. Understanding who’s liable could mean the difference between partial and full compensation:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The cargo loading company
- The truck manufacturer
- Maintenance contractors
- Parts manufacturers
Each party may also have separate insurance policies and legal teams, making these cases significantly more complicated than standard car accident claims.
2. Federal Regulations Matter
The trucking industry operates under strict federal oversight for good reason—these massive vehicles can cause devastating damage when something goes wrong. Federal regulations create a detailed framework of safety requirements that every trucking company must follow—and violations often provide the strongest evidence for your claim:
- Hours-of-service limits for drivers
- Specific maintenance requirements
- Regular inspection schedules
- Weight restrictions
- Special licensing requirements
Violations of these regulations can provide crucial evidence, but only if you know where to look and how to prove them!
3. Evidence Disappears Quickly
Time is not on your side after a truck accident. Unlike car accidents where evidence might stay preserved for weeks, crucial truck accident evidence can vanish within days or even hours. Trucking companies know that certain records could prove devastating to their defense, and they may move quickly to minimize their liability.
Critical evidence like Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), black box data, driver qualification files, maintenance records, and load securement information can disappear or be altered if not preserved quickly through legal action.
Don’t Face the Trucking Industry Alone
The Law Offices of Tim Misny knows how to level the playing field against powerful trucking companies and their insurers. We understand the federal regulations, know what evidence to secure, and have experience dealing with multiple liable parties.
Call my office at (877) 614-9524 for a free case evaluation. When trucking companies try to deny responsibility, I’ll Make Them Pay!®
