London Truck Accident Attorney
Commercial vehicles play a critical role in the proper functioning of interstate commerce in our country. Unfortunately, the increasing number of commercial vehicles on the road also comes with certain risks. Collisions between commercial and passenger vehicles, for instance, have become increasingly common. This is an especially alarming trend, as the consequences of these kinds of collisions are almost always severe and may even prove fatal. For instance, while commercial vehicles only account for around four percent of the vehicles involved in collisions, the same vehicles are also involved in nearly ten percent of fatal accidents.
Determining liability in truck accident cases can be complicated, as multiple parties could potentially play a role in the cause of the accident, including everyone from the truck’s driver or the driver’s employer to another driver or a vehicle part manufacturer. For help assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your own claim, please reach out to one of our dedicated London truck accident attorneys today.
Truck Accident Causes
Truck accidents, like any other type of vehicle collision could be the result of any one of a number of different causes. Most, however, can be attributed to some form of negligence, often on the driver’s part. This includes not only a failure to pay attention while driving or to obey traffic laws, but a failure to properly secure cargo. Distracted driving is especially common amongst truck drivers, who are often required to drive long stretches with few breaks.
In fact, if it is determined that a driver’s employer forced him or her to skip breaks or otherwise pushed that individual to violate regulations put in place by the federal government, then it too could be held liable for a portion of the victim’s losses. Trucking companies can also be held responsible for an accident if they fail to properly train their employees, engage in negligent hiring practices, or fail to properly maintain or repair their vehicles.
In other cases, the cause of a crash could be the fault not of a driver, but of a third party, like a vehicle part manufacturer. Defective brakes, tire failure, problematic lighting, and steering failure, for instance, are amongst the most common causes of truck accidents.
Comparative Negligence in Kentucky
When it comes to the causes of truck accidents, it is much more likely that multiple parties will be found at fault for the crash. A driver, for instance, may have been negligent in failing to properly load cargo, but that person’s employer could also be partly to blame for forcing its drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines, or for failing to provide adequate training. An employer that failed to repair a vehicle defect, despite knowing about it, could in turn, also be held, in addition to the negligent manufacturer, partially liable for an accident. This is possible because of Kentucky’s comparative negligence standard, under which multiple negligent or reckless individuals or companies can be held liable for an accident, with each party required to compensate the victim for its contribution to the crash.
Legal Representation When in Need
Determining responsibility for a truck accident requires a detailed investigation and a thorough understanding of tort law in Kentucky. To learn more about how an experienced London truck accident lawyer could help with your own negligence claim, please call Cessna & George Law Firm today.
