Contributing to a preventable motor vehicle collision can lead to fault and also liability for the collision. When the vehicle involved in a crash is a commercial truck, the driver could potentially be the party at fault, and they may have liability in certain situations.
Other times, a business may be at least partially liable for the collision. The people affected by the crash may be able to file a claim against a commercial insurance policy or a lawsuit against a liable business.
What businesses might have financial responsibility for a semi-truck collision?
1. The transportation company
The company that employs the semi-truck driver could have vicarious liability for their negligence on the job. The trucking company may also be responsible for failing to properly vet the history of the drivers they hire or for using high-pressure employment practices that compel workers to violate the law by speeding or staying on the road for too long.
2. Mechanics and maintenance companies
The professionals and businesses that help maintain semi-trucks may be liable if poor workmanship contributes to a crash. In scenarios where delayed maintenance or poorly-performed repairs lead to vehicles failing in traffic, the professionals responsible for that substandard professional work may potentially be liable.
3. Companies paying for transportation
Many businesses load their own trailers, and transportation companies pick them up and deliver them to a specific location. Any business that improperly loads a trailer could potentially be liable if the imbalance of weight or shifting contents of the trailer cause a crash.
Reviewing the circumstances of a semi-truck crash with a skilled legal team can help people understand their options. There may be multiple parties with partial liability, depending on the circumstances of a particular wreck.