Who Can You Sue For A Truck Accident?

In the unfortunate event that you are involved in a truck accident, there may be multiple parties responsible for the damages. It is important to understand who can be held liable so that you can pursue compensation for your losses.

Our Seattle truck accident lawyers at Emerald Law Group can investigate the facts of your trucking accident and determine liable parties. Each case is unique, which is why a thorough investigation may be necessary to determine who can be sued for your damages.

Who Can Be Sued for a Truck Accident?

Accidents involving large trucks are a common occurrence on American roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 people were killed in accidents involving large trucks in 2020, while thousands of others were injured.

If you were involved in a truck accident, there are several parties that can be held liable for causing your injuries and damages resulting from the crash. Potentially liable parties include:

The Truck Driver

The first party you should look at when filing a lawsuit after a truck accident is the truck driver. The driver may have been responsible for operating their vehicle negligently or recklessly, leading to the crash. Some examples of negligent behavior include distracted driving, drunk driving, or operating the vehicle while fatigued. If any of these factors played a role in causing your accident, then the truck driver could be held liable and sued accordingly.

Other Drivers Involved

In some cases, other drivers involved in the collision also bear responsibility for the crash. If another driver made an illegal maneuver or drove recklessly in any way, they could be found liable and sued as well. It’s important to remember that even if another vehicle wasn’t involved in your truck accident directly, it is still possible to hold them accountable if their negligence contributed to the incident in some way.

The Trucking Company

In addition to individual drivers, you may also have grounds to sue their employer—the trucking company—for any damage caused by their employee’s negligence or carelessness on the job. Depending on how serious your injuries were and how much money you are seeking in compensation, it may be worth looking into suing both the individual driver and their employer as this allows you to increase your chances of being fully compensated for all damages inflicted upon you from the crash.

The Truck or Truck Parts Manufacturer

If a mechanical failure contributed to your truck accident, then it might be possible to file suit against either (or both) of two parties: the manufacturer of either specific parts which failed or malfunctioned during operation or the manufacturer of the vehicle. When more serious issues occurred due to an entire system failing (such as brakes), then it could make sense to sue whoever manufactured that system itself (e.g., brake manufacturers).

Local Government

Local governments sometimes contribute directly towards catastrophic accidents due to poor road conditions that went unnoticed by officials. A local government may be liable under certain circumstances, such as when dangerous intersections exist without proper warning signs posted nearby or when roads don’t receive proper maintenance over long periods of time due to a lack of funding from local authorities.

Let Our Lawyers at Emerald Law Group Investigate Your Case

A truck accident can cause tremendous physical and financial harm to those involved in it and understanding who can potentially be held liable for damages is key when considering legal action. If you or someone you love has been involved in a trucking accident in Seattle or surrounding areas in Washington, contact Emerald Law Group for legal help. Our lawyer can investigate the facts of your case and help you determine liable parties. Call 206-826-5160 today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Source:

crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813286