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Truckers aren’t always at fault for crashes they are involved in

On Behalf of | Apr 10, 2018 | Trucking Accident Defense

Understanding the case against you is one of the most important steps when you are facing a claim for a semitruck crash. The complainant is going to try everything possible to make the accident look like your fault. There are some cases that aren’t the trucker’s fault at all. These are the ones that are particularly troublesome.

Oftentimes, the person who was injured in the accident will claim that the trucker was distracted, fatigued or using unsafe driving practices. These might not be the case at all, but they do sound good in the claim for compensation.

What happens in many semitruck accidents is that another driver does something that leads the semitruck driver to become involved in an accident. This could be cutting the trucker off, which would be a big risk. Semitrucks can’t stop on a dime, so if a car tries to slip in front of the truck, the trucker can’t just slam on his brakes and expect to stop. He might have to swerve to avoid what could be a fatal accident, but in the process, he might strike another vehicle.

Motorists who drive in the “no zones” and ones who try to squeeze in on the side of a semi that is turning right could also cause accidents. Abrupt lane changes and failing to use a turn signal could also cause a semi to crash.

When you are defending yourself or your company from a personal injury claim, you have to explore all the options for your case. This could mean the difference between having to pay out a hefty claim and being found as a party who isn’t liable for the crash.

Source: FindLaw, “Common Causes of Truck Accidents,” accessed April 10, 2018

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