Liability for Trucking Accidents in Valley Center

Trucking accidents in Valley Center and throughout Southern California can have serious consequences, and many collisions with large trucks result in life-altering and deadly injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) underscore that crashes involving large trucks and smaller passenger vehicles tend to be especially severe because large trucks typically weigh 20 or 30 times as much as a passenger vehicle, and they have significantly greater ground clearance that can lead to fatal underriding accidents. When a severe or deadly trucking accident occurs, who is liable?

It is important to seek advice from a Valley Center truck accident lawyer who can assess your case and help you to determine who may be responsible for injuries. In many cases, more than one party may bear some liability, and you may be able to file a claim against multiple parties. The following are the parties who are often at fault for large truck accidents in Southern California.

Truck Driver Who Made an Error Behind the Wheel

Truck driver error is a common cause of trucking collisions, making a truck driver liable. Examples of truck driver error can include drowsy or fatigued driving, speeding, following too closely, passing on the right, intoxicated driving, or texting while driving.

Employer of the Truck Driver

An employer of a negligent truck driver may be liable for injuries according to the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which says that an employer is responsible for an employee’s wrongful acts.

Truck Owner Who Failed to Properly Maintain the Truck

If the truck was not properly serviced or maintained, and the failure to have it maintained caused the accident, the truck owner (or any other party responsible for having the maintenance performed) may be liable.

Company Responsible for Loading the Truck

Improperly loaded truck beds can result in large truck accidents, and the company responsible for loading the truck may be liable.

Mechanic Responsible for Maintenance and Repairs on the Truck

Negligent maintenance or repairs can occur on large trucks and can lead to accidents. In these types of situations, the mechanic or the mechanic shop could be responsible for injuries.

Product Maker or Retailer of the Truck or One of Its Parts

Product defects can result in serious and fatal truck accidents. It is important to learn more about circumstances in which the designer, manufacturer, or retailer of the truck or one of its components may be responsible for injuries.

Property Owner Where the Truck Accident Occurred

Sometimes truck accidents happen because of hazards on the property or premises where the crash occurred. Under such circumstances, the property owner or manager could be liable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can provide more details about truck accident causation sources of injury.

Contact an Experienced Valley Center Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident in Southern California, one of our experienced Valley Center truck accident attorneys can speak with you today about your case and your options for seeking financial compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information about how we can help with your truck accident claim.

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