Driver Fatigue Increases Risk of Semi Truck – Car Accident
Car-semi truck accidents can be caused by driver fatigue, which can result in the driver falling asleep and losing control of his big rig or making a bad driving decision. In one of our cases, a semi truck driver passed a line of stopped cars and motorcycles on the left. Our client was turning left when the semi hit him.
To prevent these types of accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations limit the amount of time a driver can be on the road. These “Hours-of-Service” regulations are rules that normal drivers in cars do not have to follow. Truck drivers must keep a “daily log” to show when and how long they have been driving.
Semi Truck Accident Liability
If the driver of the semi truck caused the accident, accident victims may have a claim against many potential parties, including:
- The owner of the truck. The truck driver is not always the truck owner. In addition, semi trucks generally have a cab and a trailer, and different parties may own each.
- The owner of the freight inside the trailer
- The driver of the truck. The driver of the truck generally has little money. That’s why an experienced truck accident lawyer will find as many companies as possible that may be held liable for injuries and death.
- The employer of the driver. Employers are liable for any accidents caused by their employees while they are performing their job.
- A parent company of the owner of the truck or employer of the driver.
- The manufacturer of the truck, cab, trailer or any truck part. If there is a defective part in the design or manufacture of the truck, multiple manufacturers may be liable.
- A third-party maintenance company. If a third-party maintenance company failed to properly maintain something they were responsible for fixing, and that became a contributing factor in the accident, that maintenance company may be liable.
Contact the truck accident attorneys at Pritzker Olsen for a free consultation >>>
