How can I determine liability in an Arlington Heights truck accident? You can determine liability using police reports, witness statements, and evidence from the truck, like the GPS, black box, and hours of service logs.
An Arlington Heights truck accident lawyer can protect this evidence and help you determine if the truck driver violated any federal rules and regulations.
Determining Liability in a Truck Accident Can Be Challenging
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons. Though the obvious culprit may seem to be the driver, that is not always the case. Truck drivers, companies, mechanics, inspectors, cargo loaders, and others all play a role in a truck’s operation. An accident can occur if any of these parties fails to fulfill their role. Negligent parties may include any of the following:
- Truck drivers: For drunk driving truck accidents, distracted or fatigued driving, speeding, or otherwise operating the truck unsafely
- Truck companies: For inadequate driver training, pressuring drivers to speed or overload trucks, or failing to take unsafe drivers off the road
- Vehicle manufacturers: For producing or installing defective parts or parts prone to malfunction
- Inspectors or mechanics: For failing to recognize part or vehicle defects, or carrying out full repairs
- Cargo loaders: For failing to secure loads, overloading cargo, and failing to load cargo to prevent shifts mid-ride
Other possible at-fault parties include third-party drivers who commit unsafe actions and force the accident, or government agencies who fail to keep roads maintained, street lights lit, and traffic signals operational.
How to Determine Liability in an Arlington Heights Truck Accident
It is difficult for victims to determine liability in an Arlington Heights truck accident on their own. An experienced truck accident attorney from our team is better equipped to make this determination, so it is in your best interests to connect with us right away.
We know what to look for and how to find evidence to hold liable parties accountable. For example, we will get photos and available physical evidence from the accident site and the vehicles involved.
We will request and analyze data from the truck’s electronic data record, also called the “black box,” to find out what was happening with the truck in the moments leading up to the accident.
Your truck accident lawyer will consult with accident reconstruction specialists to recreate the accident, reveal its cause, and help determine liability. We will also speak to witnesses and document their testimonies. We will track down every bit of evidence possible.
How Truck Regulations Factor in Determining Liability
A truck’s size and weight make it a particularly dangerous presence on the road. These vehicles can disable or destroy passenger vehicles and their occupants, even with a low-speed hit. Federal and state transportation offices have implemented strict trucking regulations to mitigate the dangers that trucks present.
We know how FMCSA Regulations and Interpretations and the Illinois Department of Transportation regulations apply to truck liability. For example, if truckers disobey hours of service rules or if trucking companies do not fulfill inspection and maintenance responsibilities, we may determine that liability in an Arlington Heights truck accident falls to one of those respective parties.
The Role of Your Doctors in Determining Liability
You must get medical attention immediately after your accident, even if you do not need emergency care. Medical care protects your safety and supports your case.
Your doctors can diagnose and treat your injuries and offer a prognosis. Their input is also valuable for determining the specific cause of your injuries.
For example, your doctor may be able to connect a head injury to the impact of a force coming from a particular direction or a type of object or surface. Their information, when combined with other evidence, can provide a more complete picture of what happened.
How You Can Help Determine Liability
Many of the common injuries in truck accidents are severe, so your only option after an accident may be to stay still until emergency help arrives. If your circumstances allow you to move without hurting yourself, you can take steps that could later help determine liability in your accident.
Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, and the position of the vehicles involved in the crash. Get shots of the road conditions, traffic sign visibility, and traffic signals. Take care to document the positions of traffic or surveillance cameras. These devices may contain valuable footage.
Get contact details from witnesses and ask them to send you a retelling of the accident as they saw it.
When you partner with your Arlington Heights truck accident attorney, you can share this information and potentially help your attorney determine liability more quickly.
How to Hold Liable Parties Accountable
Once we determine liability for your Arlington Heights truck accident, we will file an accident claim with the court. In many cases, truck accidents settle through out-of-court negotiations, and we will work toward that outcome.
If the liable party refuses to negotiate fairly, we will discuss the option of going to trial and fighting for justice there.
We are committed to getting victims the highest available damages in truck accidents. To do that, we must determine and prove liability and assess your losses with care. Trust us to assess your accident-related expenses with care, accounting for medical costs, income loss, diminished value of your property, and other financial burdens.
Negligent parties are accountable for compensating you for the physical and emotional pain they have inflicted on you as well. We are committed to getting you justice for these substantial, though intangible, losses and will fight for every dollar you deserve.
Determine Liability and Demand Justice
Therman Law will dig deep into your case to determine liability in your Arlington Heights truck accident. Then, we will fight to hold the negligent party accountable for paying you full and fair damages. Connect with us right away for a free case evaluation.
Count on us to determine liability, demand justice, and offer you compassionate support throughout the process.