Each year, thousands of people are involved in vehicle accidents. In fact, there were over 30,000 fatal car accidents in the U.S. in 2014 alone. But when it comes to commercial truck accidents in Illinois, the process of filing a personal injury claim after an accident can be a little more complex. This is because it may not just be the truck driver and those in the other vehicle involved in the case.
Aside from the truck driver, there may be other parties at fault for the accident. Key parties in truck accidents in Illinois may also include:
- The truck manufacturer
- A local government
- The trucker’s employer
- Outside vendors
- Owner of the cargo
As you can see, it can be quite complicated to determine who is at fault for truck accidents. This is one of the many reasons it’s so important to find an attorney after being in an accident. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these parties play a role in determining fault.
The truck driver:
Negligent driving, such as driving while fatigued or distracted, is a common cause of truck accidents in Illinois. Not only are truck drivers responsible for driving the vehicle safely, they’re responsible for inspecting the vehicle before driving as well. If the driver failed to do these tasks, they may be at fault for the accident.
The manufacturer:
If an accident is caused by the truck failing, like tire blowouts or brake issues, the manufacturer may be found at fault if the component was defective from the start. If this is the case, a product liability claim may be filed.
A local government:
When a roadway hazard is responsible for the accident, the local government responsible for managing that part of the road may be held liable for causing the accident.
Outside vendors:
Sometimes outside vendors are responsible for tasks like recruiting drivers, conducting background checks, and performing truck maintenance. If these tasks are done negligently, the outside vendor could be held accountable for contributing to the truck accident in Illinois.
Owner of the cargo:
Some truck drivers may work as carriers to ship cargo for individual owners. The individual parties responsible for the cargo can be held liable if the cargo has caused a truck accident.
Because there are so many different parties that could be held accountable for causing the accident, a truck accident lawyer is a must-have. Without the right experience and knowledge, the victim of an accident may have difficulty proving fault in a truck accident lawsuit and therefore, may not receive proper compensation.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a truck accident, contact the Steigmann Law Team today. Our team has the knowledge and skills to help make sure you’re properly compensated for the accident.
[…] Over 30,000 fatal car accidents occurred on U.S. roads in 2014. According to the U.S. National Center for Statistics and Analysis, human error causes 94% of these fatalities, but the technology of autonomous vehicles promises to prevent them. Current driving assist features, such as lane departure alerts, are already estimated to cut the rate of fatal crashes by 86%. As tech leaders like Salesky work to perfect the features of self-driving cars, they hope to improve the safety for all drivers across America. […]