Who is Liable for Your Truck Crash?

There is no doubt that a truck accident can change your life due to serious injuries and lasting impairments. It can be difficult to know who might be liable for your injury-related losses, so you should never hesitate to contact a Round Rock personal injury lawyer for help.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), in 2018, as many as 4,136 people died in large truck crashes. Truck occupants account for 16 percent of those, 67 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. Fatalities in a large truck crash increased by 31 percent between 2009 and 2018. 

Truck accidents are often more severe than those involving smaller vehicles. Not only are the injuries worse, but liability for the accident is often more ambiguous than other accidents. There is a multitude of individuals and companies that might have acted negligently to cause the accident and thus your injuries. Without determining liability, it’s impossible to receive compensation for your injuries. An experienced Round Rock personal injury lawyer can investigate your accident to determine who is at fault.

Why Fault Matters

Under Texas personal injury laws, the following elements must exist in all personal injury claims, including truck accidents:

  • The existence of a duty
  • A violation of that duty
  • The violation causes the injury accident
  • The injuries lead to the injured party’s damages

You can’t assert that these factors relate to your accident unless you pinpoint who violated a duty that caused your accident. Not only will a skilled Round Rock personal injury lawyer help prove these elements in your case, but they will also know who to hold accountable. Keep in mind that sometimes more than one party shares blame for the accident. In these cases, they will split their liability. For example, suppose a semi-truck hit you because his truck malfunctioned. In that case, the trucking company and the truck or part manufacturer could be held liable. 

Who is Potentially Liable for Your Crash?

While it might make sense that the truck driver has a liability, there are other potential scenarios. It’s advisable to have a seasoned Round Rock personal injury attorney on your side to look at all the facts and circumstances to determine who might owe you compensation. These people or parties include:

  • The truck driver
  • The truck company
  • The manufacturers of the truck or its parts
  • Government entities responsible for the maintenance of streets and street signs
  • Other drivers

Each of these parties has a duty to you. Drivers need to drive safely and remain awake. The trucking companies need to provide effective training and testing for their employees. They also need to help their employees maintain the trucks. Bus and bus part manufacturers have a duty to ensure everything is working correctly. Government entities need to perform maintenance and repairs on streetlights, sighs as well as roads and sidewalks. When they fail to meet these duties, an accident can occur. 

Schedule Your Truck Accident Consultation with a Well-Versed Round Rock Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Call a Round Rock personal injury attorney today at (512) 766-4529 or complete our online contact form to schedule your no-obligation truck accident consultation.  At the Elissa I. Henry Law Firm, we know how difficult life can be after facing a truck accident. Turn to us to get the help you need.