Freight drives modern society, taking goods from farms, fields, and factories to stores so that people can use them to carry out businesses. The majority of freight in this country travels by railroad or by truck.

 

The Cost of Commercial Trucking

 

The flow of goods on our highways comes with a price: the risk of deadly truck accidents. In order to reduce that risk, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established comprehensive rules governing the behavior of all licensed truck drivers on the roads. In addition, state governments have additional rules designed to keep you safe while on the roads. Because they impose additional costs, these rules cut into the profits of trucking companies.  In response, some trucking companies ignore the rules if they think they can get away with it, putting you and your family in danger.

 

If you have been injured by a trucking accident, the attorneys at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton can help. Schedule a free trucking accident injury consultation today.

 

Trucking Companies Put You at Risk

 

Common ways trucking companies ignore the rules to increase profits:

• Unrealistic delivery schedules that require drivers to speed or drive for long periods of time
• Overloading trucks, which can make them difficult to start, stop, or steer
• Poor oversight of drivers
• Cutting corners on truck maintenance

 

All these methods for increasing profit also increase the risk of a dangerous trucking accident. When they occur, tractor-trailer truck accidents are far more likely to cause serious injury or death to drivers and passengers in other vehicles because of the truck's much higher weight.

 

Getting Compensation for Trucking Injuries

 

If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck, the following parties may be liable:

• The Truck Driver when his or her actions--such as driving when fatigued, tailgating, driving aggressively, failing to properly inspect or secure cargo--contributes to the accident.
• The Truck Owner in cases where poorly maintained equipment caused or contributed to the accident.
• The Freight Owner if potential hazards in the freight were not included in instructions to the shipping, loading, or trucking companies.
• The Trucking Company when it failed to properly supervise the driver, encouraged dangerous behavior, or hired a driver with a poor safety record.
• The Loading Company when improperly loaded cargo contributed to the accident.
• The Shipping Company if it was supposed to supervise the trucking company, the driver, and/or the loading company, or knowingly worked with a trucking company that had a poor safety record.
• The manufacturer of the vehicle or vehicle equipment if equipment failure caused or contributed to the accident.
• The entities responsible for maintaining the road when defective roadways contributed to the accident.

 

The attorneys at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton are prepared to go after all responsible parties to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for the accident. If you have ongoing medical bills, a permanent disability, or if you have lost a loved one, you often cannot afford to let the trucking company shirk their responsibility for the accident. We stand up for trucking accident victims in all 50 states, and we will work to ensure that those responsible pay the full measure of their liability. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation truck accident consultation today to learn how we can help you.