Commercial trucks frequently drive on Monroe roads, transporting their freight all around Connecticut and the country. Inevitably, some of these trucks lose control and get into accidents. Because they are much larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road, accidents involving trucks can result in serious injuries and even fatalities. In that case, you will require the services of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.
If you were hurt in a trucking accident, you might be entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault party. A Monroe truck accident lawyer, George W. Ganim, Jr., can work with you to pursue compensation against the people or trucking company responsible for the accident.
State and Federal Regulations Governing Truck Drivers
While all drivers have a duty to obey the rules of the road, there are stricter state and federal rules and regulations govern the commercial trucking industry. These safety regulations exist to help prevent truck accidents:
- Drivers who are not qualified to drive commercial vehicles
- Drivers who do not receive proper training by their employers
- Drivers who do not have a commercial driver’s license
- Drivers who work excessive hours behind the road, which can lead to driver fatigue
- Overloaded or unbalanced cargo
- Trucks that do not receive regular servicing to maintain their parts
- Testing or cellular phone use while driving
If truck drivers, their employers or trucking companies negligently or recklessly violate any of these rules, accidents are more likely to occur. A truck accident lawyer in Monroe can look for evidence of negligence to use in a court trial or to achieve a fair settlement.
Determining What Caused the Accident
Trucking accidents tend to happen for one or more of the following reasons:
- Insufficient training for the truckers
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving while distracted
- Driver fatigue due to working more than the required hourly limits
- Switching lanes in an unsafe manner
- Speeding or otherwise driving recklessly
- Unbalanced or unsecured cargo
- Failure to properly maintain and service the truck
A local trucking accident attorney can investigate to determine exactly what caused the accident. First, he or she can try to examine the trucker’s behavior at the time of the crash by looking through police reports, eyewitness accounts, dispatcher recordings, photographs, black box data and the trucker’s past driving record.
He or she can also look at the truck’s inspection and service records to see if the trucking company regularly maintained its parts. An experienced attorney knows the relevant state and federal regulations, and can look at the cargo shipping standards and driving limitations to spot any blatant violations.
Determining Who Bears Legal Responsibility
Often, more than one party bears legal responsibility for trucking accidents. Pursuing legal action against all of the potentially responsible parties could help maximize your damages recovery. Irresponsible truck drivers are liable for many of the commercial vehicle crashes in Monroe. However, a court could also hold the employer vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of the driver.
In addition to the trucking company being liable for the negligence of its driver it can be held liable for: setting the designated route or forcing their employee to drive for more than the state or federally mandated number of hours; not regularly servicing their vehicle; failing to train its drivers; or improperly securing cargo.
A Monroe truck accident lawyer can file a lawsuit against the driver of another vehicle for causing the accident, the owner of the truck, the trucking company, the third-party cargo company for improperly loading the freight, the mechanic for failing to properly service the truck or even the Town of Monroe for failing to adequately maintain the roads. Attorney Ganim can analyze the evidence from the crash scene to identify all of the responsible parties.
Contact a Monroe Truck Accident Attorney to Start Your Case
Trucking accident litigation is complicated and requires an in-depth understanding of local, state, and federal regulations. There is a higher chance of multiple parties getting involved as well as the potential for more injuries due to the vehicle size. A skilled Monroe truck accident lawyer like George W. Ganim, Jr. can investigate your accident and discuss the merits of your claim. Reach out for a free consultation today.