Who Can I Sue When I’ve Been In A Truck Accident?

If you’ve been in an accident where you were hit by a truck, your head is probably spinning even after you’ve gotten
to safety. The accident very likely caused you substantial damages, from medical bills, lost wages, and other
damages like pain and suffering. But unlike a regular passenger vehcile accident, there are a number of parties that
are involved in the operation of a commercial semi truck. So who can you sue for the damages you’ve suffered? The
answer can be complicated.

Because of the complications related to the responsible parties in the operation of a semi truck or other commercial
vehicle, you are often better off with a qualified truck accident lawyer handling your case.
Especially when you’re going up against big corporations like insurance companies and trucking companies, hiring a
lawyer can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.

Choose a law firm with a history of success with truck accident cases like yours.
Burger Law knows how to go up against insurance companies to recover fair compensation for the damages you’ve
suffered. Let us help you win your St. Louis truck accident case. Call us today at 314-542-2222 to discuss your truck accident case with us for free.

Who To Sue in Your Truck Accident Case

As with any vehicular accident, there are potentially multiple parties at fault in a truck accident in Missouri or
Illinois. Who is legally responsible for compensating you (and, therefore, who you can sue) for your injuries,
medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages depends on what happened and what caused the accident. It is
possible that you may have claims against multiple parties, depending on what factors contributed to the accident.

The Truck Driver

Even when there are other contributing factors, operator error very often plays a role in a truck accident. If the
driver acted with any negligence at all, you may have a case against the driver. Some possible acts of negligence
include speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, failing to use turn signals or other indicators, driving too
long without stopping, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

There are laws limiting how much time a truck driver can spend on the road in one stretch. Your lawyer will help
obtain evidence of the truck driver’s behavior leading up to and during the crash to determine if you should sue the
driver.

The Trucking Company

Another party that is commonly found responsible in truck accidents is the trucking company. The employer can be held
accountable for the actions of their employee during their work. There are different employment agreements, though,
between the owner of the truck and the driver of the truck. You have a stronger case against the trucking company if
the driver was an employee of the company rather than an independent contractor.

In addition to being held to account for the actions of their employees, a trucking company can be faulted for errors
such as failing to follow state regulations, improper training, failing to maintain the vehicle, or setting
unreasonable standards for travel time and distance, encouraging the driver to speed or drive with little sleep.

Your truck accident lawyer will help you obtain
documentation that shows the employement relationship, policies, maintenance records, and other internal documents
that show if the trucking company can be sued for their actions.

Shipping Companies and Mechanics

You may have a case against other individuals or companies who worked on and around the truck prior to the accident.
This would include the shipping company or the person who loaded the truck – namely responsible if overloading, a
spill, or a roll-over contributed to the accident.

The owner of the truck is required to have regular servicing performed on the vehicle. The mechanic or company that
worked on the truck to perform maintenance or repairs could be partly responsible for the accident if a mechanical
breakdown contributed to the accident.

Manufacturers and Engineers

When there is a failure within the giant machine that is a semi truck, you may even have a case against the truck
manufacturer or a company that produces one of the parts used in the truck. When a product defect like brake line
failure, tire blowouts, or steering system failures occur, the consequences can be devastating and even deadly.
Suing the responsible company will help prevent the use of potentially faulty products on other trucks, which can
ultimately save lives.

Suing for Your Truck Accident Case

To make sure you hold all possible parties accountable for their negligence in relation to the damages you have
experienced in your truck accident, speak to a knowledgeable St. Louis truck accident lawyer like
Gary Burger and the attorneys of Burger Law. We will go to work for you to find evidence of all negligent parties
and hold them to account by demanding fair compensation.

Your St. Louis Truck Accident Law Firm | Burger Law

Truck accidents can involve several negligent parties. To ensure that you sue the right parties and get the complete
compensation you are owed for the damages the truck accident has left you with, you need an experienced truck
accident lawyer like the lawyers of Burger Law. We have a demonstrated history of standing
up to trucking companies to get our clients the settlements they deserve. If you’ve been in a truck accident case
and don’t know who to sue or need assistance in proving your case against the truck driver, trucking company,
shipping company, mechanic, or manufacturer, call 314-542-2222 or send us a message today.

Gary Burger

Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO

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