When Truckers Hold Vehicle Drivers Accountable For Accidents, Who Is The Victim?

It’s all too common for two people to step out after a wreck and argue about the fault. When it comes to figuring out who is accountable for accidents, it’s difficult for any driver to know the whole story. From behind the steering wheel, it’s nearly impossible to see what the other driver saw. Now when you’re in that situation with a trucker, there’s no way for either drive to fully understand the situation. It’s never a good idea to argue fault at the scene.

Instead, rely on an experienced car accident attorney in Richmond, your evidence, and compelling fact to prove fault. Don’t let the trucker in your crash claim that you’re to blame. All too often, people will happily believe the career drive over the standard passenger vehicle driver.

Who is Accountable for Accidents When There Is Mutual Blame?

More often than not, both parties claim the other at fault. In the best-case scenarios, it only creates a minor delay. But in trucking accidents, there are bigger issues. If the truck driver says that you’re at fault, then it could derail your entire claim. The trouble is that you’re up against a professional driver.

Imagine arguing against a doctor because you’ve spent some time on WebMD. People are more likely to believe the professional in almost every situation. So fighting the word of a trucker in terms of fault is tough. You need to consider all the elements and likely bring in a few experts of your own.

Truckers Can Be Victims Too

It is possible for cars to cause trucking accidents. Not only can they dart in front of trucks, but they can cut the off, slam on their brakes, and worse. There are many ways that standard vehicle drivers aren’t considerate to truckers, and it often leads to them being accountable for the resulting accidents.

So your driver in this crash may genuinely believe that they’re the victim. Imagine that it’s just as frustrating for them as it is for you. There’s no single third party that can reliably say it was the trucker’s fault or yours. To sort this out, you’ll need a crash recreation expert who will analyze the physics behind the crash. They look to science and fact to best determine who was responsible for the accident.

In fact, truckers have long been the target for insurance fraud and scams. Basically, people will seek out a trucker, and they arrange a crash and avidly pursue compensation. Drivers who try to pull these scams will either swoop in front of the truck or sideswipe them and then claim the driver did it. They do this in the hope of that million-dollar payout, which is unreasonable to gamble for when you’re putting your life on the line.

Standard Vehicle Passengers Have A Much Higher Victim Rate

Passenger vehicle deaths in trucking accidents almost always surpass the trucker fatalities. In 2018, there were 2,786 passenger vehicle deaths in trucking accidents. That makes up about 64% of all deaths involved in truck accidents. Typically these are victims, not only in that they suffered the greater impact, but that they weren’t contributing toward the fault.

Passenger vehicle drivers don’t often have as much control over the situation as people like to think. They cannot stop a trucker from driving too closely or being tired. Additionally, they can’t control that the drivers have been behind the wheel for hours on end. It’s just something that we can’t account for while we’re on the streets.

Getting to the bottom of who is accountable for accidents is never easy. It can take months to sort out the elements or factors that influenced the crash. With the trucker arguing that you are at fault, it may take longer to satisfy that trucker’s employer.

Call Your Local Richmond Auto Accident Lawyer for Support

When you’re recovering from a crash, it can so quickly turn into a finger-pointing game. Don’t hesitate to get aggressive with your defense. When you know, you weren’t at fault, and you’re up against a huge trucking company you can’t be polite. Be transparent about the extent of the damage. Then use facts and evidence to show that the trucker was at fault and you were not.

Taking the time to find a decent attorney is critical. Not only do you need someone with strong negotiating skills but also confidence and charisma. You’re up against a huge company or a trucker with substantial insurance coverage. Don’t fall prey to their many tactics. Call our law office and get your case started.