Laws Aren’t Enough To Protect You From Commercial Trucks
When an 18-wheeler weighing 40 tons hits a 5,000-pound passenger vehicle, the 18-wheeler always wins. To make the roads safer for passenger vehicles, laws were enacted that require commercial trucking companies to maintain their vehicles and limit the hours that drivers can be on the road. While these laws have made an impact, one look at accident statistics tells you that not everyone is following the law.
Commercial Truck Accident Claims Involve More Than Insurance Companies
Accidents involving two passenger vehicles are relatively straightforward affairs that mostly involve dealing with insurance companies. In an accident with a commercial vehicle, federal and state trucking regulations, maintenance of the truck and road conditions are all factors in filing a claim. Other factors unique to accident claims involving commercial trucks include:
Truck driver employment status – Depending on whether the truck driver was a contractor or employed full-time by a trucking company, you could be dealing with the driver’s insurance company, the trucking company or the company that owns the truck.
Truck driver logbooks – Federal and state laws place strict limits on the number of hours truck drivers can spend behind the wheel. Fatigue often plays a role in accidents.
General maintenance of the truck – Owners of commercial trucks are required to keep maintenance logs on all vehicles. If a mechanical failure deemed to be a manufacturing defect caused the accident, the truck manufacturer also becomes part of the claim.
For more than three decades, attorney Stephen T. Collins has been helping victims of accidents with commercial trucks throughout northwest Louisiana. He has the knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities of accidents involving commercial trucks.
Contact Truck Accident Attorney Stephen T. Collins
If you were involved in an accident with a commercial truck and suffered serious injuries, call Collins Law at 318-626-7300 or fill out our online contact form.