Keeping in mind how many goods are being delivered to and from Utah, it’s no shock for motorists to encounter a semi-truck on the roads. Most semi-trucks are of massive size and weight compared to other vehicles on the road, meaning that they will probably cause a devastating accident if they collided with another motorist. In most collision cases involving a big rig, the company they work for is to blame, but having them pay for their fault may prove quite complicated.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 500,000 semi-truck accidents happen throughout the entire country in a year. Fatal truck collision accidents are often due to driver fatigue, unsafe or careless operation of the commercial vehicle, improper loading that causes the rig to be unstable, or merely low vehicle maintenance or defective brakes or other equipment.
While truck drivers could be held responsible for the accident, the trucking company could also be held liable for allowing their vehicle/motorist to maneuver through the road in such a reckless manner. Things a trucking company could also be responsible for are as follows:
- Over scheduling;
- Failure to properly monitor their drivers;
- Not allowing proper breaks or time off;
- Truck overloading;
- And neglecting adequate maintenance of their vehicles.
While the trucking company and their insurers should be legally liable for the injuries you may have suffered during a trucking accident, it may prove nearly impossible to get them to pay. Tactics that they can use to avoid liability and payment for a semi-truck accident may include but limited to:
- Denying any responsibility for the driver’s recklessness;
- Rejecting their policies had anything to do with the collision;
- Downplaying the extent of the injuries, you may have suffered as a result of the accident;
- Attempting to blame you for the semi-truck accident or even just claiming you were partially at-fault.
Sometimes though, a trucking company and their insurers can offer you a settlement almost instantly because they want to pay you off before you can fully establish the extent of your injuries. Doing so dramatically reduces the chance of having any future costs to you.
Be smart before you accept any offers or make any statements to insurance companies or officers. Talk to a Utah truck accident attorney first.
