Truck accidents are much more complicated than regular auto accidents. Multiple parties may be held responsible, multiple insurance companies may be involved, and there are many factors that can determine fault. Because trucks are commercial vehicles, there are many more laws and types of laws which apply to accidents involving trucks than simple auto accidents. With the complexity surrounding trucking accidents, you may have questions you want answered.
There are many elements that must be considered when determining fault in a truck accident including:
Trucking regulations
Driver skill and training
Consecutive hours of driving
Internal company policies and expectations may lead to unsafe practices
Type of accident, such as underride accidents
Overloaded truck
Equipment malfunction
Faulty brakes
Faulty tires
Intoxication
Trucking companies and their insurance companies will have their own dedicated attorneys, sometimes multiple teams of attorneys. Potential evidence in a truck accident is much more extensive than evidence collected in an auto accident. Truckers are required to keep logs, some trucking companies use advanced technology such as GPS to track and record things like speed, location, and driving time, and there is information that can be obtained from weigh stations, places of loading and unloading, etc. Trucking companies will not volunteer the evidence needed to prove your case. Only an experienced truck accident attorney in Honolulu knows what evidence and information to look for, and where to find it.
Protective Laws
Numerous state and federal laws apply in truck accidents. The trucking industry is heavily regulated and many of the laws that apply to trucking are designed to keep protect motorists, including rules and regulations regarding:
Consecutive driving hours
Cargo weight limits
Inspection schedules
Drug and alcohol testing
Driver training
Hazardous materials
Some of the laws that apply to trucking are designed to prevent various types of illegal activity such as transporting illegal cargo. These laws can sometimes be applied in accident lawsuits as well.
Truck Accidents Usually Involve Multiple Responsible Parties. This Can Include:
The driver
The trucking company
The contractor
The owner
The truck manufacturer
Government entities
Multiple insurance companies
Truck Accident Attorney In Hawaii, Hawaii
Due to the complex nature of truck accidents, only experienced truck accident attorneys have the knowledge to effectively pursue a truck accident lawsuit. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident anywhere in Hawaii, call Dan Pagliarini, an experienced truck accident attorney to schedule your free case evaluation and consultation today.