Car accidents are a far-too-common occurrence. Luckily, many auto accidents are fairly minor, with more property damage than injuries. However, when that accident involves a semi-truck, the chances of serious injury are far more likely. If you were driving the semi-truck, that can sometimes put you at great risk. Here's a look at some of the things that you should know about truck accident law and your options for defending yourself.
Your Logs Will Matter
As a commercial vehicle driver, one of the first things that will come up when you're in an accident is the condition of your logbooks. The police will inspect your logbooks for any signs that you have been driving more hours than you should or shorting your breaks. When your logbooks show any violations, that can reflect poorly for you in terms of liability for the accident.
When you retain the services of a truck accident lawyer, they will also request a copy of your logbooks. If they are part of the investigation, your logs will have to be turned over as part of the discovery process of the case. However, if necessary, your lawyer can also request those logs from the company that you drive for to be able to develop a defense.
Your Company May Be Liable
One of the most challenging parts of a truck accident case is proving liability. For commercial drivers, liability can lie either with the driver, the company, or both. If your company knowingly put you behind the wheel despite being at your hour limit, or put you into a truck that was faulty and didn't take the steps to repair it, the liability will fall with your company.
Additionally, if the accident was caused by a mechanical failure on your truck and the maintenance logs indicate some sort of negligence by the maintenance company, the responsible party may be the maintenance contractor who failed to do the work correctly.
Since truck accident attorneys work in this type of legal proceeding, they can help you to identify the liable party based on the circumstances of the accident.
Accident Reconstruction May Be Important
Another great reason to retain a truck accident lawyer is that they have the training and background to work with an accident reconstruction specialist to help you build your case. When the scene is reconstructed, it's far easier to identify the liable party. It's also easier to build a solid defense for you if there's anything in the reconstruction that could cast doubt on your liability.
For additional information, contact a truck accident lawyer.
