Our Skilled Elizabethtown Accident Lawyers Are Key to Proving Liability in a Truck Crash
Establishing liability in any accident is an essential part of a personal injury claim. To seek compensation from another party, you need to prove that party was responsible for the crash. However, proving liability in a truck crash can be challenging. Determining the at-fault party takes in-depth investigation, critical evidence, and an understanding of the many parties that may be responsible. The experienced injury attorneys at Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey have handled hundreds of truck accident claims with successful results. Here, we discuss liability in truck accidents and why the at-fault party may not be the driver. 
The Success of Your KY Truck Accident Injury Claim: Proving Liability
A personal injury claim for a truck accident is more complex than a claim for an auto accident. Seeking compensation for injuries that involve an 18-wheeler, a dump truck, or other commercial truck can be complicated because multiple parties take part in the safe operation of that truck and getting it on the road. Thus, one or more of them may be responsible for the crash.
Potential Defendants in Your KY Personal Injury Claim
While truck driver negligence may have contributed to your accident, there may be other parties who are at fault. An Elizabethtown truck accident lawyer can help you pursue a claim against the following parties if they’re partially or fully responsible for your accident:
-
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The owner of the truck
- The owner of the trailer, if separate
- A loading crew, cargo owner, or shipping company
- The truck mechanic, repair shop, or garage
- Any other driver whose actions contributed to the crash
- The manufacturer of any defective truck component
- A government entity responsible for maintaining the road in safe condition
Determining the right at-fault parties maximizes your chances of obtaining a fair financial recovery. However, having multiple defendants can also complicate your claim. It’s likely that each party will blame the other and deny liability. That’s why it’s important to hire the experienced Kentucky truck accident attorneys at Skeeter, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey. They will help determine who should be held liable for your accident and will build a compelling, evidence-based case to help prove negligence.
When You’re Partially at Fault for Your Kentucky Truck Accident
It’s possible that you may share some responsibility for the truck accident. But even so, you may still have grounds for a personal injury claim. Kentucky follows the doctrine of pure comparative negligence for injured accident victims. Under Section 411.182 of Kentucky Revised Statutes, a court will determine your percentage of fault for the accident. Once this is decided, the court will then reduce your compensation amount by that percentage. Because your compensation depends on establishing liability for all at-fault parties, you need a skilled truck accident lawyer handling your claim.
Your Elizabethtown Truck Accident Lawyer Helps Prove Liability With Key Evidence
It’s important to have strong evidence when building a case against a truck driver, trucking company, or other liable parties. An experienced Elizabethtown personal injury attorney will help identify and collect critical evidence for your claim, including the following:
-
- The police report
- Eyewitness statements
- Photographs and videos of the accident scene
- Dashcams or video surveillance camera footage
- Data from the truck’s black box
- Forensic evidence, such as skid marks and debris at the crash scene
- Truck inspection reports
- Maintenance and repair records
- Driver logs
- Truck driver employment records
- The trucker’s cell phone records
- Shipping records that could help establish parties potentially accountable for improper loading
To keep evidence from disappearing, we may also send a spoliation letter to the trucking company. This letter informs the defendant(s) that it cannot dispose of relevant evidence. Because it’s important to send this letter right away, obtaining legal counsel after a truck accident is critical.
If your case goes to trial, Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey will also hire expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists, truck safety investigators, and auto experts, to help provide key evidence and secure fair compensation.
Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey Helps Clients Hold All Defendants Liable for Truck Accidents
The right injury lawyers for your claim will help you establish liability and obtain a fair settlement. Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey provides our clients with peace of mind as they go through the legal process. Our honest, helpful answers to your questions and common sense advice makes the claims process less stressful for our clients.