In an 18 Wheeler Accident? You May Be Able to Sue
Victims of 18 wheeler accidents often experience serious or fatal injuries. Victims or their surviving family members can pursue a civil claim for monetary compensation to recover for crash losses. While it is possible for victims to sue the driver of the 18 wheeler, it can also make sense for victims to pursue a case against the trucking company that employed the driver. The Huerta Law Firm, PLLC can help victims of truck crashes in El Paso to understand their options for pursuing a claim for damages.
Can You Sue Trucking Companies After an 18 Wheeler Accident
A truck driver can be sued if the driver is responsible for causing an accident. To successfully sue the driver, a victim would have to show the driver was unreasonably careless (compared to a hypothetical average driver) and/or that the driver was in violation of some type of safety rule or regulation (which creates a presumption of negligence). Truck drivers, however, may not personally have enough money or insurance to pay for damages. If the truck driver was working at the time of the accident, his on-duty actions are considered to be the actions of his employer under agency rules. This means the trucker, who is the company’s agent, is acting on behalf of the company. If the trucker is negligent, the company is negligent and the company can thus be sued. A company that is negligent in its own right (such as by failing to have policies for hiring or background checks that all reasonably prudent companies have), the company could also be sued.
The Huerta Law Firm, PLLC has helped many victims of an 18 wheeler accident make successful claims against truck companies. To find out more about your options for your claim, contact us today!