Maumee Truck Accident Attorney

While all auto accidents are potentially dangerous, truck crashes pose an especially serious risk to those involved because they almost always involve more than one vehicle. This can make it difficult to determine who was primarily at fault, so if you were injured in a truck accident, it is important to seek the advice of a Maumee truck accident attorney who has the means and experience to conduct an in-depth investigation into the crash.

Types of Commercial Trucks

While we are perhaps most familiar with semi-trucks, there are actually a variety of large commercial trucks that regularly travel public roads and pose a risk to others, including:

• Flatbed trucks, which have open trailers and are used for transporting especially large cargo;
• Dump trucks, which are used to transport massive amounts of loose materials, including gravel and dirt;
• Tanker trucks, which carry potentially dangerous liquids, such as oil and gas; and
• Semi-trucks, which are used to transport everything from produce to livestock and are involved in the most accidents.

Furthermore, because of their large size, commercial trucks tend to be involved in specific kinds of crashes, including:

• Rollovers;
• Multi-car pile-ups;
• Jackknife accidents; and
• Underride accidents, which involve a small car becoming lodged underneath a larger truck.

Although truck drivers are specially trained on how to load and unload cargo and how to operate commercial trucks safely, accidents still can and do occur on a regular basis.

Establishing Liability

Although commercial trucks play a key role in interstate commerce, they are still recognized as posing a threat to others on the road. As a result, truck drivers and truck companies must comply with strict regulations regarding maximum driving time, vehicle weight limits, cargo loading procedures, and driver qualifications. When a driver fails to fulfill the duties required of him or her by federal or state law, he or she can be held personally liable for the injuries suffered as a result. The driver’s employer could also be required to compensate victims for any crashes involving a truck that it owns or that bears its name. If a truck company disputes its relationship with the driver, it can still be held responsible if it failed to use reasonable care when hiring or did not perform appropriate maintenance on its vehicles, as long as those actions are directly linked to the cause of the accident.   

Meet With a Maumee Truck Accident Attorney Today

The injuries sustained in truck crashes tend to be more severe than those sustained in collisions between standard passenger vehicles. As a result, injured parties are often forced to foot the bill for expensive treatments and ongoing therapies. If you were involved in a truck accident and were not at fault, you can and should collect compensation for your losses. To speak with an experienced Maumee truck accident attorney about your case, please contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC by calling 419-241-5500 or by sending us a message with your contact information and a brief description of your case.