If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in Texas, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim under the law. Moreover, it is important that you name all responsible parties on your claim in a timely manner, because if any responsible party is omitted and the timeline to make a claim runs out, victims and families could lose out on potential damages from the responsible parties who may have been omitted from the claim. In order to protect their rights and hold all responsible parties accountable, many individuals who have been hurt in a truck accident in Texas seek the counsel of a truck accident law firm like the Cooper Law Firm. The Cooper Law Firm are Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, and Marshall, Texas truck accident attorneys who help victims identify responsible parties and fight to help truck crash victims seek damages they might be entitled to receive under the law.
Truck accidents differ from passenger vehicle crashes in that more than the driver might be responsible following the crash. Who might be responsible for your Texas truck accident? Here are a few parties:
- The truck driver
- The truck owner
- The company that owns the truck company or equipment
- The manufacturer of any defective parts that may have been to blame for the accident (mechanics, tire manufacturers, or other parts)
- Shipper (if improperly loaded items resulted in the crash)
- Insurance companies
These are just some of the parties that could be to blame for your crash. What sometimes happens is one party might blame the other for the crash, and now victims find themselves fighting not just the truck driver, but the insurance company, the shipping company, and the truck’s parts manufacturers who are each blaming each other for the accident. A claim like this can get complicated very quickly. This is where having a truck accident lawyer like the Cooper Law Firm on your side in Texas can help. When pursuing a lawsuit for your serious trucking injuries, it is important that your claim be thorough and name all responsible parties. The truck accident lawyers at the Cooper Law Firm in Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, and Marshall, Texas are here to help.
Breaking Down Truck Accident Liability
A personal injury claim often hinges on whether a victim can show that the other party was liable or responsible for the crash. In a truck accident claim, multiple parties might be liable or responsible for the accident. This can make a truck accident claim sometimes more complex than a passenger vehicle claim where only one party might be responsible. Here’s a breakdown of potential parties responsible for truck accident liability:
- The Truck Driver. Truck drivers can make mistakes behind the wheel. Sometimes they speed, drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, engage in distracted driving, or violate Federal hours of service laws or other laws governing commercial truck drivers. Truck drivers are required to abide by stricter laws than passenger vehicle drivers. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident lawyers in Texas who can look closely at the factors leading up to your truck accident to determine whether the driver might have been liable.
- The Truck Company. The truck company that owns the tractor trailer, equipment, or the company that hires the truck driver may also have a responsibility in the crash. Truck companies have a responsibility to vet drivers before they hire them and to review their driving records. Truck companies may also have a responsibility to properly maintain equipment. Records could also show that a truck company might have violated Federal trucking laws or pushed drivers to violate these laws. If any of these hold true, the truck company could be held responsible for the crash.
- Parts and Maintenance. Defective vehicle parts and negligent maintenance work can lead to systemic failures that can cause accidents. Think tire failure, brake failure, steering failure, and other serious issues. The Cooper Law Firm can review maintenance records, look at the parts used on the truck, and look for any known recalls or issues.
- Truck companies are required to hold high-limit insurance policies. These policies are designed to protect the driver and victims should an accident occur. However, sometimes insurance adjusters might try to fight back when victims seek high-limit claims. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident attorneys in Texas who may be able to assist you with navigating the insurance claim process following a truck accident.
These are just some of the ways a truck company, driver, or other party could be negligent following a truck accident. Every truck accident case will be unique. Having a truck accident lawyer on your side to review your case and identify all responsible parties can make an immense difference. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident attorneys in Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, and Marshall, Texas who are on your side and who may be able to assist you with your claim. Reach out to our law firm today for a free, initial consultation and case review. Or reach out to USAttorneys.com to get connected with the Cooper Law Firm’s lawyers today.
