A truck accident occurs due to several reasons. In this type of accident, many people, vehicles and properties can be damaged. Hence, the claim is more complex than your expectations. Hiring a good truck accident lawyer Portland OR can be the best bet because he can contact the parties involved in the accident as well as officials. This way, he can handle the situation wisely. Since you or your loved one might have been injured seriously in the accident, you can just leave it to him.
Who can be held responsible for a truck accident?
Since there may be several reasons for the accident, some of the responsible parties can be explained below:
The truck driver
First, the lawyer will contact the truck driver to understand his state of mind or his condition. He may check whether he was under the influence of any drug or alcohol, which caused the accident. In most cases, the driver may have to undergo tests at the police station or at the hospital to verify his medical condition. If he has disobeyed the laws or made any mistakes, he will be held responsible for the accident.
The trucking companies
Many a time, the accident occurs because of the bad condition of the vehicle, untrained driver, poor maintenance of the truck and sending a different driver to meet the deadlines. In all these instances, the trucking company will have to take responsibility for the accident.
A third-party motorist
In case, someone else contributed to the truck accident by his actions such as taking a wrong turn or breaking the traffic rules, he may have to pay for the losses. However, a good truck accident lawyer can look into this matter more appropriately.
The owner of the cargo
If the truck is overloaded or wrongly loaded, the owner can be held accountable for the accident. It is his responsibility to load, ship and balance the materials on the truck. It should not be more than the truck capacity because it can cause a truck accident.
The manufacturer
In many cases, the auto manufacturer or the manufacturing company of the truck parts can be held responsible for the accident. Any defective part of the truck can cause an accident.
A good truck accident lawyer should be hired if you want to increase the value of your claim. Moreover, if more parties are involved, proving fault can be challenging.