Accidents between commercial trucks and cars can cause an enormous amount of damage. They pose another problem, too. When it comes to liability, these accidents might involve several parties. As an accident victim, you may not know where to turn for compensation.
Who is involved?
When it comes to commercial trucks, many different parties may be involved in a single delivery. This means you could have more than one legal claim, depending on the circumstances of your accident. You may have claims against the following parties:
- The driver – If the driver of the truck caused the accident, you might bring a claim directly against the driver under California’s negligence law.
- The company that owns the truck – Under California law, the company that owns the truck and employs the driver may carry the insurance for any accidents involving its drivers and vehicles.
- The company that loaded the truck – Some trucking companies, especially those that use semi-trucks, carry loads for other companies. If improper loaded caused the accident, that company may bear some responsibility.
- Manufacturers or maintenance personnel – In some cases, a manufacturing defect or improper maintenance may cause an accident.
To make matters even more complex, California is a comparative negligence state, which means that even if you were somewhat at fault for your accident, you can still bring an action against someone who was also at fault.
You don’t have to accept the first offer
Insurance companies will try to offer you a quick settlement for far less than your case is worth before you have a chance to figure out what your true damages will be. This is especially true if you suffered a severe injury. Before you accept any settlement offer, make sure you understand who bears responsibility for your accident and what your case is worth. The best way to do that is to have an experienced attorney review your case.
