On behalf of Rooney Law Firm posted in Trucking Accidents
When you are involved in an accident involving a commercial vehicle in California, it can present a different set of challenges than that of a regular motor vehicle accident. With a tractor-trailer accident, you will likely be dealing with a business instead of an individual driver, and these companies also often have teams of lawyers on retainer and ready to represent their interests as soon as an accident happens.
The trucking industry is profit driven, just like any other, and that means that sometimes companies cut corners to protect their bottom lines. When these shortcuts cause a crash that threatens to expose the company’s violations, it’s likely both the company and its insurance agents will do everything they can to deny fault.
Trucking companies can contribute to accidents by turning a blind eye to drivers working longer shifts than allowed by the federal trucking regulations, not adequately inspecting and servicing their fleet and hiring unqualified drivers. The guidelines set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are in place to protect both commercial truck drivers and other vehicles on the road, and violating these policies can have devastating consequences.
Battling a corporation, insurance companies and lawyers can be overwhelming at any time but even more so when you are trying to recover from injuries suffered in the accident and dealing with other post-crash issues. Talking to an attorney who is used to dealing with trucking companies and their lawyers can help you better understand the options moving forward. In some cases, victims may be able to file a civil suit against the truck driver or the trucking company if they are found liable.
