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It is nearly impossible to travel anywhere in the Auburn area and not encounter a large commercial vehicle. These trucks perform a variety of functions—from moving cargo to package delivery and providing essential construction support. However, regardless of their function, each of these vehicles poses a major threat to the safety of people in smaller passenger cars. If you were harmed as a result of a tractor-trailer wreck, you may have a right to seek compensation for your losses.
Speaking with an Auburn truck accident lawyer could be the first step towards achieving a successful claim. A diligent personal injury attorney could investigate your case to prove that a truck driver’s negligence was the source of the crash and fight for your deserved financial reimbursement. While a legal professional cannot take away the pain caused from an injury, they could help you move forward with your life from a position of financial stability.
When is a Trucker Liable for an Accident?
Truckers have the same obligation to safely operate their vehicles as all other drivers on the road. This also means that they are directly liable for any damage that they may cause to other people due to their own negligence or careless driving. Even so, proving fault for these incidents can be difficult, but an experienced Auburn truck accident attorney is prepared to take the lead in this process.
Accidents Due to Common Traffic Violations
Truckers must follow the same traffic laws as all other travelers. This means that they must obey speed limits, yield when appropriate, and stop at red lights and stop signs. Demonstrating that a violation of these laws led to an accident is one approach to show that a trucker was responsible for a collision.
Additional Restrictions Apply to Truckers
Special rules also apply to truckers that could help an Auburn truck crash lawyer prove fault for an accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets maximum drive time limits on commercial truckers. If a trucker exceeds these limits and is involved in a wreck, it is likely that the trucker is to blame. Similar laws control the maximum weight of these vehicles and even reduce speed limits for trucks driving on certain roads and streets. Talking with a knowledgeable attorney could help injured individuals better understand the unique trucker road regulations that may help them obtain monetary damages.
A Negligent Trucker May Not be the Only Liable Party
There is no doubt that a negligent driver is personally liable for their own actions while behind the wheel. However, a comprehensive case will seek out other parties that may share liability following a crash.
An obvious example is an insurance company. Whether the trucker is an independent contractor doing business on their own or is an employee of a trucking enterprise, they must always operate under the protection of an insurance policy. These policies specifically provide payments to the victims of accidents for their medical bills, emotional traumas, and other losses.
Another potential party that could share liability is the trucker’s employer. A concept of law called respondeat superior states that an employer is jointly responsible for the actions of their employees while those workers are on the clock. As long as the accident happened while the trucker was on the job, their employer is likely to share blame for the incident. An Auburn tractor-trailer accident lawyer fights to hold all liable parties responsible following an injury.
Enlist the Help of an Auburn Truck Accident Attorney
The outcome of a large commercial vehicle wreck lawsuit can have a significant impact on your present and future. These cases could determine whether you will be responsible for your own medical bills or whether you can collect compensation for them as well as for any emotional losses and missing income.
An Auburn truck accident lawyer could be a valuable ally throughout the entire legal process when pursuing a claim. They could fight to prove that a trucker was at-fault for a crash and demand that trucking companies and insurance providers pay the restitution that you are due. Reach out today to schedule an initial consultation.
