It is important to take care of yourself after being injured in a truck accident. But it is arguably just as important to take steps to build a strong truck accident claim capable of securing every penny of compensation you deserve. While you mostly need to take care of your health on your own, you can leave all of the casework for your injury claim up to our capable and experienced team of New Hampshire truck accident lawyers from Upton & Hatfield, LLP.
Backed by more than 100 years of personal injury practice history, our law firm is easily one of the most recognizable in New Hampshire. Upton & Hatfield, LLP hasn’t been able to keep our doors open for so long by providing just any sort of legal service. No, we have done it by dedicating ourselves to achieving excellence for our clients, supporting our local communities, and standing up to major insurance companies where other law firms would back down.
You are invited to see the difference our New Hampshire truck accident attorneys can make for your claim. Contact us now at Upton & Hatfield, LLP.
What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
What percentage of accidents are caused by trucks? The question might be straightforward, but there is no clear answer due to all the varying details within each crash.
However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has estimated before that at least 10% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents involved a large commercial truck. This percentage is concerning because big rigs and semi-trucks do not comprise 10% of all vehicles on the road.
The statistic leads to another question: What is happening to cause so many truck accidents? Why are so many commercial trucks crashing and seemingly so often? The answers can help establish liability in a truck accident claim.
Four of the most common causes of truck accidents are:
Exhaustion: As shocking as it might seem, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) actually allows the average commercial truck driver to drive up to 11 hours a day during a 14-hour shift and a 70-hour workweek. Not surprisingly, many truck accidents involve a truck driver who was fatigued or asleep behind the wheel at the time of the collision.
Impairment: In order to combat fatigue, some truckers are tempted to use drugs or alcohol to cause temporary stimulation. Of course, drug and alcohol use behind the wheel is never a safe practice because intoxication and impairment can be more dangerous than exhaustion.
Speeding: Truck drivers are usually not paid by the hour. Instead, they are paid per mile driven. To try to maximize their paychecks or to complete a lengthy shift early without a pay deduction, some truck drivers break posted speed limits for commercial trucks, putting everyone else on the road in severe danger.
Brake failures: Truck part failures are a serious problem, and perhaps none are as dangerous as brake failures. The brakes on a commercial truck have the difficult task of bringing an 80,000-pound vehicle to a complete stop in a short distance, which puts immense strains on them. Heavier loads put greater strain on the brakes, so overloaded trailers pose a greater risk of a brake failure.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Determining liability in a truck accident can be complex, as multiple parties may be responsible. Here are some potential parties who could be held liable for a truck accident in New Hampshire:
Truck driver: If the driver of the truck was negligent or engaged in reckless behavior that caused the accident, they may be held liable.
Trucking company: The trucking company that owns the truck and employs the driver may be held liable if they were negligent in their hiring practices, failed to properly train the driver, or failed to properly maintain the vehicle.
Owner of the truck: If the truck is owned by a different entity than the trucking company, the owner may be held liable if they were negligent in maintaining the vehicle or failed to address any known defects.
Cargo loaders: If the accident was caused by improper loading of the cargo, the company or individuals responsible for loading the cargo may be held liable.
Maintenance companies: If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, the company responsible for maintaining the vehicle may be held liable if they were negligent in their maintenance or repairs.
Government entities: In some cases, government entities responsible for maintaining the roadways or regulating trucking may be held liable if their negligence contributed to the accident.
Determining liability in a truck accident can be complex, and it often requires a thorough investigation. If you've been involved in a truck accident, it's important to consult with an experienced New Hampshire truck accident lawyer who can help you identify the parties responsible and pursue compensation for your injuries and damages.
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