Can I Sue a Trucking Company for Wrongful Death?
April 29, 2019 | Wrongful Death
If you are filing a wrongful death claim against the negligent truck driver that caused your family member’s untimely death, it’s important to keep in mind that you are likely eligible to sue the trucking company the driver is employed with, in addition to other parties that could be liable for the victim’s wrongful death.
Who Am I Eligible to Sue for Wrongful Death in a Truck Accident?
If a truck driver’s carelessness caused the sudden death of your immediate family member, you could sue the negligent driver and the trucking company for wrongful death to increase the chances of recovering full compensation from the accident. Additional parties that could be eligible to be sued in a wrongful death truck accident include:
- The person that loaded the truck if the accident was caused by an overloaded truck
- The manufacturer of the goods that the truck was hauling at the time of the accident if hazardous material was involved
- The manufacturer of the truck’s parts if a truck defect caused the accident
- If a rental truck is defective, the rental company that rented the truck or the trailer to the driver is liable
- Truck drivers are required to hold certain types of insurance, including but not limited to, general liability and cargo insurance
- If the trucking company uses a specific company to perform maintenance on their vehicles, and the accident is caused by a truck defect or failure to maintain, the truck maintenance company could be liable for damages
Wrongful Death Truck Accident Lawsuit
Truck drivers in the U.S. are required to strictly adhere to Federal Truck Regulations that define how a driver should conduct themselves as a representative of a truck company, and safety protocols that must be followed behind the wheel of a CDL vehicle. The primary purpose of federal truck regulations is to keep other drivers on the road safe and ensure that the cargo that’s being transported is protected and secure. If a driver violates federal truck regulations and causes a fatal accident, they are liable to compensate the victim’s immediate family members for damages.
If you have recently lost a family member in a fatal truck accident that was caused by a negligent truck driver, you need to consult an experienced wrongful death lawyer. Truck drivers are required to report all accidents to their employer within 24 hours after an accident, but this doesn’t always happen. A lawyer can make sure that a report is filed with the driver’s employer and the police, and assess the situation to see if you could be eligible to sue the trucking company the driver is employed with or other parties to recover full compensation for the victim’s harm and losses.
What Damages Can I Recover By Suing a Trucking Company for Wrongful Death?
If a truck driver is responsible for the death of your immediate family member, and you have a valid case involving a negligent truck driver, you can sue the truck driver and the trucking company for wrongful death. Generally, eligible family members of a victim can recover damages that the victim could have included in a personal injury claim for the accident.
The most common types of damages that are recovered by suing a trucking company for wrongful death in addition to the negligent driver that caused the accident include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of consortium. If you are unsure what damages you are eligible to recover by suing for wrongful death, consulting a lawyer about the accident is an excellent place to start. An experienced lawyer can analyze the situation, offer support, and create a personalized plan to recover the maximum amount of compensation for harm and losses that your family experienced because of the fatal truck accident.
Talk to a Wrongful Death Lawyer About Your Fatal Truck Accident Today
When it comes to wrongful death it can be challenging to figure out the process of suing a trucking company, but hiring an experienced lawyer to represent your case can make the process more streamlined and increase the odds of recovering full compensation for your family member’s wrongful death. If you have lost a family member in a fatal accident and are searching for more information on how you can sue a trucking company and a negligent truck driver for wrongful death, contact the Dixon Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your situation with our Wrongful Death Truck Accident Lawyers.