Despite the fact that truck drivers are more careful on average than motorists, truck accidents are still a major problem on the roads of Hamilton County. Semitrailers are much bigger than passenger cars and trucks. In fact, a semitrailer can weigh 25 times as much as a passenger car, so the destruction can be much worse if an accident happens between these two kinds of vehicles.
Truck drivers, like all drivers, have a duty of care to others. Truck drivers are required to exercise reasonable care in the operation of their vehicles to avoid injuring others. Truck owners are also required to exercise reasonable care; this can mean taking reasonable steps to hire safe drivers and do routine service and maintenance on trucks. If one or more of these duties are breached and another party suffers injury because of the breach, the injured party may be able to recover damages from the negligent party.
In addition to the truck driver and truck owner, there may be other negligent parties. Trucking companies, contractors and insurance companies may become parties as well. Another thing to remember is that truck manufacturers and parts manufacturers also have a duty of care. They must exercise reasonable care in the design and manufacture of trucks and their components. If they fail to exercise reasonable care, injured parties may have a case if their injuries were caused by the failure.
What should someone do if they believe they may be the victim of another party’s negligence in a truck accident? Personal injury lawyers can take a look at the circumstances of a crash and advise possible victims of their rights and options.
