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Who can be Sued After a Truck Accident?

Experienced Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorneys for Victims in Chicago and Nearby Areas

As an AV-rated law firm, Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca helps people who have been injured by the careless conduct of others. Our Chicago truck accident attorneys can assess all of the potentially at-fault parties so that clients can recover the true extent of compensation to which they are legally entitled. There may be more than one liable person or entity that can be sued after a truck accident, and more than one party often can be held accountable in a personal injury claim for the resulting harm. Through a diligent investigation, our skilled lawyers set forth strong evidence that supports a finding of fault. For decades, we have helped injured individuals and their families as they pursue damages that help them during the difficult period following a crash.

Understand Whom to Sue After a Truck Accident

There are many potential causes of a truck accident, and following a collision, injured victims may ask whom to sue in order to pursue compensation for their harm. In addition to filing a legal claim against a careless truck driver and their employer, truck manufacturers and others may be potentially at fault for causing a crash. Victims may file a personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident against all of the potentially responsible parties.

Like all drivers, employees operating a truck for their employer are required to abide by vehicle laws and ensure that they travel safely on roadways. Throughout Illinois, driver error is a major cause of truck collisions. Truck drivers may suffer from fatigue due to their delivery schedule and deadlines, or they may rely on over-the-counter medications in order to avoid falling asleep.

Often, truck accident claims are based on the negligence of the driver, since careless or unreasonable conduct that causes a crash exposes the driver to liability. Negligence is a failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances. The accident victim and their attorney must demonstrate a breached duty of care that directly led to the crash and the resulting injuries. Examples of negligent conduct may include abuse of over-the-counter medications, in addition to speeding and distracted driving.

In addition to driver error, there are a variety of ways that a trucking company, as an employer, may be found at fault for a crash. Any failure by the employer regarding properly inspecting and maintaining trucks may be a basis for legal fault, if it is deemed to have contributed to the crash. When it is aware of a potential issue or problem with a vehicle, it is the truck company’s responsibility to repair defects and ensure that all components, such as lights, brakes, and steering, are in working order on the vehicle.

Some truck accidents in the Chicago area and nearby communities are caused by poor road maintenance. State and local governments are required to provide safe roads for vehicle travel. When a road is in disrepair, it poses dangers to drivers. Due to the size of these massive vehicles, a driver may not be able to correct for issues in the road and can lose control of their vehicle. When a road is not properly maintained, and this failure directly leads to a collision and injuries, the victim can hold the responsible government entity accountable for damages.

Retain a Chicago Lawyer to Protect Your Legal Rights

It may not be obvious initially that there are potentially multiple parties at fault for contributing to a truck collision. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our successful litigation practice involves investigating all of the possible causes of a crash and holding liable parties legally accountable. Our clients know that our Chicago attorneys have the experience necessary to identify the potential causes of an accident. Contact our office at 312-724-5846 or complete our online form to begin the process of understanding your rights. We offer a free, confidential appointment with a skilled motor vehicle collision attorney. We also provide representation to people in Springfield, Quincy, Champaign, Rockford, Aurora, and other communities in Winnebago, Sangamon, Champaign, Adams, and Cook Counties.