When a truck driver is involved in an auto accident, the other party may be interested in suing not just that driver, but the trucking company itself. They know that the company carries a significant insurance policy, so they want to sue the corporation and seek significant financial compensation.
That said, trucking companies do have defense options. Often, this revolves around demonstrating that the driver was not at fault and that the company did not make any mistakes.
For example, trucks have long stopping distances. Some rear-end accidents are caused when a truck driver is already braking and a smaller vehicle cuts the truck off and then stops. This could happen as a semi-truck approaches a red light, for example. But because a semi-truck has a stopping distance that is nearly twice as long as a passenger car, the driver may be unable to avoid that rear-end crash. In many rear-end accidents, it is assumed that the rear driver was at fault, but that may not be the case in all truck accidents.
Preserving evidence
One of the most important steps to take after a crash is to preserve all evidence that can help to support this claim. Examples of potential evidence include:
- Phone data
- Dashcam footage
- Maintenance records
- Driver logs
- Witness statements
For instance, the trucking company may be accused of negligence in maintaining their vehicles, as the other driver may allege that poorly maintained brakes led to the accident. But if maintenance records can show that the brakes were actually perfectly up-to-date and that the other driver simply cut off the truck and caused an unavoidable crash, that can be used as a means of defense.
These cases are complex and a significant amount of money hangs in the balance, so trucking companies must understand what legal steps to take.