A truck driver may be behind the wheel when an accident takes place but not all situations are under their control. When the accident is not caused by negligence but rather with the vehicle’s maintenance, then the trucking company may also be responsible for the injuries and destruction caused. It is the company’s duty to ensure that the truck driver not only drives responsibly but is also given a vehicle that is properly maintained.
When a truck is not driven or maintained properly, it could be equal to a deadly weapon. Its mass and weight make it a force to be reckoned with if it is not driven correctly. It doesn’t help that the majority of other vehicles on the road are passenger vehicles that can be crushed under the truck’s size. A recent fatal accident in New York may highlight this discrepancy.
A 64-year-old civilian employee of the city’s police department was killed in an accident on a local freeway recently. He was driving in the early morning hours when the spare tire of a garbage truck going in the opposite direction suddenly became unhinged. It flew over the median, hit and smashed the windshield of the car driven by the 64-year-old, causing it to collide into the divider. The accident victim suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by another driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. A personal injury attorney should be able to discuss options with those who are looking for compensation for their injuries.