Truck accidents can be scary, painful, and confusing. When a crash happens, most people assume the truck driver is the only one at fault. However, that’s not always true. In many cases, multiple individuals or organizations may be responsible for what happened. Understanding how multiple liable parties in truck accident cases work is important if you or a loved one got hurt in a crash involving a commercial truck.
Why Truck Accidents Often Involve Multiple Liable Parties
The trucking industry is much more than drivers and their vehicles. A whole team of people plays a role in getting a load from one place to another. That includes the trucking company, the truck driver, any contractors they hire, mechanics, and even the warehouse staff that loads the trailer. When something goes wrong, more than one of these players could be at fault. Some common reasons these accidents happen include:
- Driver error, like speeding or texting behind the wheel
- Equipment failure, such as bad brakes or worn-out tires
- Cargo loading errors, which can cause rollovers or jackknifes
- Driver fatigue, especially if the driver broke federal rules on rest times
- Maintenance issues, like skipped safety checks
Since so many parts of the process matter, the following people or companies may be responsible:
- Truck driver, for poor driving decisions or falling asleep at the wheel
- Trucking company, for ignoring safety rules or rushing drivers
- Maintenance provider, for not fixing worn-out parts or doing sloppy inspections
- Cargo loaders, for unbalanced or unsecured loads
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers, for making defective brakes, tires, or steering parts
Legal Doctrines Used in Multi-Party Truck Accident Cases
When more than one person is responsible for a crash, lawyers use certain legal rules to figure out who pays for what. One of those rules is vicarious liability. As a result, a company may be responsible for the actions of its employees while they are on the job. If the truck driver made a mistake, their employer could also be responsible.
Another important factor might be negligent hiring. If a trucking company hired someone with a bad driving record or didn’t do a background check, that company could be partly to blame.
All companies in the trucking industry must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. These rules cover hours of service, drug testing, inspections, and record-keeping. If any party broke those rules, they may be held liable for the crash.
Challenges in Suing Multiple Defendants
Filing a claim against several parties isn’t as simple as pointing fingers. It takes careful work to gather proof and make a strong case.
You’ll need to collect records and documents from all involved. This could include driving logs, maintenance reports, and emails between contractors. Each party might have different insurance companies, which makes things tricky. You could end up dealing with multiple insurance claims, each one trying to reduce what they pay.
Another common issue is when the parties blame each other. This “finger-pointing” defense can drag out the case. For example, the trucking company might blame the maintenance crew, while the driver blames the cargo loaders. Sorting it out takes time and strong evidence. The legal process in these cases tends to be more time-consuming. There are more people to interview, more documents to request, and more arguments to untangle.
The Importance of Thorough Investigation in Truck Accident Claims
In cases involving multiple parties, gathering all the facts is more crucial than ever. That’s why a deep investigation is necessary to uncover what really happened. This often starts with accident reconstruction. Investigators use several types of evidence to rebuild how the crash happened, including:
- Photos
- Witness statements
- Skid marks
- Truck data
They may also review vehicle maintenance logs to find out if the truck was in bad shape before the crash. If the brakes are worn out or the tires are bald, the maintenance provider could be held responsible.
Driver logs and onboard computer data (also called “black box” data) can show how long the driver was on the road, if they were speeding, or if they hit the brakes too late. Sometimes, investigators need to pull in people from outside the case, such as industry specialists, to show where the trucking company broke the rules or why a third-party contractor failed to do their job safely.
How Damages Are Divided Among Liable Parties
In Arizona, courts use comparative fault to determine liability. This divides the responsibility according to the percentage of fault each person contributes to the accident. If a jury decides the truck driver was 60 percent at fault and the maintenance company was 40 percent at fault, each will pay that share of the damages.
If one party cannot pay, Arizona law allows for contribution and indemnity. This gives the paying party the right to go after the other party for their share later. This rule helps the injured person get paid, even if one party does not have adequate financial resources or does not have insurance.
This division of fault for the crash can affect how much money you get. If one party is only responsible for 10 percent of the crash, their insurance might only pay that portion. A lawyer’s job is to track down every liable party and make sure they all contribute fairly.
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ Today
If you’ve been injured in a truck crash and think more than one party may be responsible, don’t wait to get answers. The sooner you start, the better your chances of holding the right people accountable.
Reach out to Triumph Law Group to get started with a free consultation. We can help you understand your rights, initiate a thorough investigation into the crash that injured you, and fight for the full compensation you need to recover. Call 602-595-5559 today to learn more about how our truck accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ, can help you seek the justice you deserve.
Related Post
Can Passengers File Personal Injury Claims After a Car Crash in Arizona?
What Happens If the At-Fault Driver Leaves the Scene of the Crash?
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Phoenix?
T