Hit by a Commercial Truck? You Need an Attorney Who Handles These Cases.
Truck accident claims involve federal regulations, corporate defendants, and multiple insurance policies. Get matched with an attorney experienced in commercial trucking cases.
Understanding Truck Accidents
Collisions involving commercial trucks — semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, and other large commercial vehicles — tend to produce far more severe injuries than typical passenger vehicle accidents, simply due to the size and weight difference. A fully loaded semi can weigh twenty to thirty times more than a passenger car.
Truck accident claims are also legally more complex than standard car accident cases. In addition to the driver, liability can extend to the trucking company, a cargo loading company, a maintenance contractor, or even the truck or parts manufacturer. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations govern driver hours-of-service, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement — and violations of these rules are often central to proving fault.
Because trucking companies typically carry significant insurance coverage and have legal teams that begin investigating a crash almost immediately, it's important for injured victims to have their own experienced representation just as quickly.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Driver fatigue
Long hours on the road, sometimes in violation of federal hours-of-service limits, is a persistent cause of large truck crashes.
Improper cargo loading
Overloaded or unevenly distributed cargo can cause rollovers and jackknife accidents.
Poor vehicle maintenance
Brake failure and tire blowouts are common contributing factors, sometimes tied to maintenance shortcuts to meet delivery schedules.
Wide turns and blind spots
Large trucks have significant blind spots ('no-zones') and require wide turning radii, contributing to side-impact and turning collisions.
Driver inexperience or inadequate training
Operating an 80,000-pound vehicle requires specialized skill that not all drivers have fully developed.
Common Injuries
Every case is different, but people injured in a truck accident frequently experience:
- Traumatic brain injury and severe concussion
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Multiple bone fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries and amputation
- Severe burns (in cases involving fuel or cargo fires)
- Fatal injuries
Who Can Be Held Liable?
The truck driver
Fatigue, distraction, impairment, or reckless driving can make the driver directly liable.
The trucking company
Companies can be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to violate hours-of-service rules.
A maintenance or cargo-loading contractor
Third-party contractors responsible for upkeep or loading can share fault when their work contributes to the crash.
The truck or parts manufacturer
Defective brakes, tires, or coupling systems can support a product liability claim.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Extensive medical costs
Truck accident injuries often require long-term or lifelong care, including surgery, rehabilitation, and in-home assistance.
Lost income and future earning capacity
Severe injuries frequently prevent a return to prior work, requiring compensation for long-term financial impact.
Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
Damages reflecting the physical and emotional toll of catastrophic injury.
Wrongful death damages
In fatal truck accidents, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for loss of financial support and companionship.
Legal Issues Unique to Truck Accidents
Federal trucking regulations
FMCSA rules on driver hours, vehicle inspection, and cargo securement often play a central role in establishing negligence.
Electronic logging device (ELD) data
Modern trucks record detailed data on speed, braking, and hours driven — critical evidence that can disappear if not preserved quickly.
Multiple liable parties
Identifying every responsible party (driver, carrier, contractor, manufacturer) is essential to fully accessing available insurance coverage.
Evidence preservation deadlines
Trucking companies may not be required to retain certain records indefinitely, making a prompt legal 'litigation hold' letter important.