Why Are Truck Accident Lawsuits So Complex?
Truck accidents have various causes. Sometimes, they happen because of a driver who is under the influence, other times it’s because of someone who was in a rush, and so on. Auto accidents involving large trucks can be quite complicated, especially from a legal point of view.
What makes truck accident lawsuits so complex, though? Let’s find out!
- The Risk of Death Is Higher
Compared to car accidents, truck accidents tend to be deadlier. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration statistics, between 3,000 and 5,000 annual deaths happen due to truck accidents. Then, when someone ends up dying in a truck accident, there is more labor surrounding fault determination. As such, the legal process gets longer.
This is why an individual who files a wrongful death claim should hire a good accident attorney who can perform an independent investigation.
Carrollton is a city that saw numerous truck accidents, and many of them were deadly. Only back in May, a pickup truck driver ended up slamming into a barrier, and when he tried to get out, another vehicle hit the truck and caused it to go further into the lanes instead. Then, a motorcycle rider ran into the pickup truck and died. This is a case where a Carrollton truck accident lawyer would have been very useful.
- Trucks Have Bigger Policies
Trucks are very big, so insurance companies use this in order to calculate the coverage cost. Usually, truck policies can be worth even 40 times more than your typical passenger vehicle policy. A lot of insurers would also try their best to escape liability in case an accident happens, so if the party at fault is a truck driver, you are less likely to get compensation.
- There Are More Regulations
Commercial trucks are usually responsible for interstate deliveries. Therefore, trucking companies have the responsibility to register with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Some regulations in the trucking industry include truck maintenance rules, driver qualifications, and annual inspections. All these rules and paperwork make truck accident lawsuits more complex.
- There Are More Vehicles Involved in Truck Accidents
Trucks are much harder to control than passenger cars. This is all due to their weight and size. So, when there is an emergency, a truck will be much harder to stop, which increases the likelihood of the truck hitting other vehicles on the road. When more cars are involved in the accident, it is harder for investigators to determine who is at fault and then expedite the compensation process for the victims. Because of this, many truck accidents end up going to court.
The Bottom Line
If you are a truck driver and you’re involved in an accident, you need to hire a good lawyer to help you with the process. Make sure you do your research and find an experienced attorney to increase your chances of success. Otherwise, the complexity of the case may overwhelm you and make it harder for you to win.
