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Who Can Be Sued In A Truck Accident Case Involving Injury Or Death

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Any person or entity who was directly responsible for, or was a factor in, the cause of a truck accident can be sued for injuries or death as a result thereof. If you have been the victim of an accident involving a truck, you need to hire a truck accident lawyer knowledgeable about liability and able to determine the negligent party. A truck accident can have many potential defendants, some of whom are:

1) The Truck Driver

If the accident was caused because of truck driver error, truck driver fatigue, or a truck driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then they can be sued for your injuries. Truck drivers are the first possible defendants in truck accident cases.

2) Truck Makers

If the truck accident was a result of some defect in the truck or any of its parts, then you can sue either the manufacturer or the makers of individual truck parts.

3) Trucking Companies

Trucking companies are regulated by federal laws and are required to take specific safety measures regarding their trucks and drivers to prevent truck accidents. If any trucking company is in violation of the laws, and this has caused the truck accident, then the company can be sued for the injuries or death resulting from the accident.

4) The Shipper of Goods

If your injuries or the death of a loved one has been caused because of a truck accident involving a hazardous goods carrier, you can sue the shipper of the goods in the truck accident case. Shippers of HAZMAT goods are required to advise the truck drivers and trucking companies about the nature of the goods that are being shipped. If they fail to do so, they can be sued for the injuries caused by a truck accident carrying their shipment.

5) Truck Repair Shop

If the truck that was involved in the accident had recently been repaired, and if such repairs were not carried out properly, thus causing the accident, then the person or company that did the repairs can be sued for your injuries.

6) Government Bodies

If the cause of a truck accident was bad roads, inadequate lighting on the roads, broken down signals, or a similar cause, then the government body or entity responsible for the maintenance of those systems can be sued in a truck accident case involving injuries or death.

If you are a truck driver, then you can sue the person driving the other vehicle involved in the accident, if the accident was caused by the negligence of the other driver. You can also sue your employer for any injuries that you may have sustained in a truck accident while on duty.

With so many possible people and entities that can be sued in a truck accident case, it is to your advantage to consult with an experienced lawyer, who will be able to determine who the best party to sue would be, and how to get you the maximum damages.

A thorough investigation of the truck accident must be performed immediately and accurately to establish the fault of another party. An examination of the scene, the vehicles involved and taking statements from witnesses of the accident will be key. Nothing from the scene of the accident should be altered. Because trucking companies will send their own investigators to assess the scene, it is vitally important to hire a lawyer who will get the ball rolling on the investigation to establish liability and damage.