Unique Questions To Ask When Involved In A Semi-Truck Auto Accident

Posted on: 29 May 2020

While you may be familiar with what to do if you get into an accident with another car on the road, things can be complicated when you are in an accident with a semi-truck. Here are some questions that are unique about getting involved in an accident with a large 18-wheeler.

Do You Need A Specialized Lawyer?

An accident with a semi-truck is an instance where you are going to want a lawyer that specializes in these types of accidents with large commercial vehicles. They are quite different from a typical car accident since there are many unique factors that have to be investigated.

Was The Accident Caused By A Lack Of Maintenance?

One thing that can be different about an accident with a semi-truck is if it was caused by a lack of maintenance. It's a unique situation, because the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident may not be the one that is responsible for handling the maintenance. For example, the semi-truck may not have had working turn signals and you did not see that they were changing lanes, or the windshield wipers are in poor condition and don't give the driver clear visibility.

Was The Driver Fatigued? 

A big factor to consider is the mental state of the driver at the time of the accident. Were they fatigued from having to work long hours, or potentially driving more in a day than what they are legally allowed to do? This could be a valid cause of an accident because the driver is not as alert as they could be. This can impact the driver's reaction time.

Your lawyer will likely request the driver's logbook, which will help identify how many hours the driver was on the road. If your lawyer feels that the logbook was falsified, further investigation will need to be done to see if the logbook matches up with the distance that the vehicle traveled prior to the accident happening.

Who Is Ultimately Responsible For The Accident?

All of these factors are going to be considered to figure out who is responsible for your accident. A percentage of fault could be assigned to the company that hired the driver, as well as the driver themselves. This will help determine who you need to go after for damages in a personal injury lawsuit so that you can receive compensation.

For more information, contact a law service like Shenkan Law Center, P.C.

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