Accidents Involving Trucks Can Be Devastating!

In collisions that involve large commercial vehicles, the resultant damage and injuries can be proportionately huge too. When the vehicles involved are of different weights and sizes, obviously, the smaller and lighter one would take the maximum impact. The injuries sustained in the occupants of the smaller vehicle would also be much more serious.

Be Alert, Stay Safe!

It’s important to stay at a safe distance from larger vehicles and follow safety rules meticulously while passing them. However, it’s even more important for truck drivers to remain alert, avoid distractions, drug/alcohol use and stay fresh and in the best of health while transporting heavy loads across vast distances.

Keep the load on the road!

It’s mandatory to secure the load properly and ensure that it does not work loose en route. While carrying hazardous or inflammable substances, there should be clear signs on the vehicle indicating this. Garbage and dump trucks operating within cities have to ensure that material and debris doesn’t fly out of the vehicle.

If you or a dear one has been injured in an accident involving a truck, contact a Durham personal injury lawyer without delay as there are several complex medical, legal and insurance matters involved. You may be entitled to compensation.

Co-Driver Liability

Tractor-trailers and large trucks are often driven by a pair of drivers who share the duty when the journey is very long. This allows one to take rest while the other drives. When such a driving team is involved in an accident, the issue of liability becomes even more complicated. In fact, the co-driver is often one who is seriously injured in the accident, since he was completely oblivious and sleeping in a narrow berth in the driver’s cabin. Such co-drivers are not usually liable in the case of accidents.

In fact, they are also eligible to seek compensation if they’re injured in the accident, from the driver and the trucking company.

Co-drivers can only be held liable if they contributed in some way to the negligence that caused the accident. If they have distracted the driver or consciously allowed them to take the wheel when they knew that the driver was fatigued, under the influence of alcohol, drugs or prescription medication.

We Can Help!

Accidents involving trucks can leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There are enormous physical, financial and emotional consequences that arise from being seriously injured. In many cases, the injured victim is permanently disabled and may require life-long medical attention and dedicated care. Hospitalization, expensive procedures, medication and the need for rehabilitation can take a toll on not just the victim but often the entire family.

Experienced Durham personal injury lawyers can evaluate your case and provide the right advice on filing a compensation claim. We help you put together a robust case, backed by evidence provided by experts in the fields of medicine, law, transportation, insurance etc. We can access police/traffic records and CCTV or video footage, along with eyewitness testimony if available to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.