Override Accidents
There are many different ways that large trucks may cause extremely dangerous events on the road. In addition to jackknife accidents, brake failures, and drunk driving-related accidents, override accidents are common.
An override accident occurs when a truck is unable to stop and collides with a vehicle, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian in its path. Commercial trucks are often very heavy and require a substantial distance to stop in time. If the truck driver is not paying attention behind the wheel or lacks the training necessary to react quickly enough when faced with a potential override crash, catastrophic injuries may result.
File a Legal Claim for Personal Injuries Caused by a Car Accident
Personal injury cases typically require the victim to establish that the defendant acted negligently and that their injuries were a direct result of this negligent conduct.
When it comes to the trucking industry, truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to duties and rules geared toward ensuring safety on the road. Drivers, for example, must undergo minimum training and supervised driving hours before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. They also have a lower BAC limit than other drivers in terms of how much alcohol they may legally drink before operating a truck.
Trucking companies have an obligation to ensure that they hire qualified, responsible, and reliable truck drivers, and they may be held vicariously liable for any injuries that result during the course and scope of an employee’s duties. It is fairly common in trucking accident cases for the plaintiff to sue both the truck driver and the trucking company to ensure that all liable parties are brought to justice.
After showing that the truck driver and/or the trucking company acted negligently, the plaintiff must prove that there was a causal link between this conduct and the injuries that they sustained. The override accident must have been a foreseeable result of the driver’s distraction, intoxication, inadequate training, or careless maneuver.
To obtain compensation, the plaintiff must document the costs and harm that they sustained, which may encompass medical bills, missed paychecks, vehicle repairs, and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident. It is important to keep thorough records of your expenses to ensure that you are compensated fully. Non-economic damages like pain and suffering may also may be compensated.
Consult a Dedicated Truck Accident Attorney
Navigating the legal system while you are coping with devastating injuries is the last thing that you should need to handle by yourself. At the Law Offices of Matt Uhrig, our skilled team can handle your entire dispute, including negotiations with insurance companies and any litigation that proves necessary. If you live in the mid-Missouri area and are in need of an honest and compassionate lawyer, send us a message. We’d be happy to help you find justice.