Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured during heavy truck accidents on U.S. highways every year. A truck accident lawyer in Fort Collins provides legal representation to protect the rights of injured persons and the families of those who did not survive an accident. Trucking companies are usually considered liable when an employee causes a collision, but often, the driver is an independent contractor, which makes the situation even more complicated.
A Formidable Presence
Collisions between heavy trucks and passenger vehicles tend to be much more serious than accidents between two passenger vehicles, although those can be deadly as well. The size and weight of the big rig makes it a formidable presence on the highway and more likely to cause disastrous consequences in a collision.
Responsibility
A trucking company may dispute its responsibility if the driver is not an employee but rather is contracting to provide service. A truck accident lawyer in Fort Collins becomes necessary to make sure that either the company’s or the independent driver’s insurer pays reasonable compensation to those who have been harmed. Expert witnesses may be needed to reconstruct the scene and verify what the injured person believes happened.
Complicating Factors
Truck accidents are also more complicated cases because there are special regulations that must be followed. For instance, drivers are only legally allowed to be on the road a certain number of hours within a given time frame. However, the industry is well-known for drivers feeling pressured to not comply with these laws.
In addition, fault can be disputed in a chain of responsibility. Perhaps the load was not properly secured, leading to lumber falling from a flatbed trailer onto the highway. Was an employee at the pickup location responsible for this negligence? Isn’t the driver expected to check the load before leaving the facility?
Overworked and fatigued drivers, along with pressure to pick up and deliver loads in unreasonable amounts of time, can lead to tragic consequences. Anyone who has been harmed by a heavy truck accident can contact an organization such as the Law Offices of Burton & Burton for help.
