The sheer size of trucks, that is, large commercial vehicles used mainly to transport property, creates extreme risk for all other roadway users. The data shows this. Fatalities in truck accidents are in an 80-90% way borne by the other vehicles on the road.
Experts who do crash forensics rarely conclude that one factor alone accounts for the accident.
Rather, while driver error accounts for a large share of mishaps, other operative factors take place days and months ahead of the event. These include driver training, managerial inputs regarding scheduling and expectations, vehicle design and manufacture, road conditions, traffic signaling, environmental hazards and more.
Identifying who is liable
In addition to the drivers in an accident, there are other entities to look at closely so that contributing fault to the collision can be properly assigned. These include but are not limited to:
- The trucking company
- The cargo loading company
- The truck manufacturer
- Parts companies
- Maintenance companies
- Mechanics
Montana roadway and weather conditions
A deteriorating U.S. Interstate Highway system, in need of repair and expansion, is also an inescapable factor in any truck accident analysis.
In addition, Montana is in the top third of states with bridges in poor/structurally deficient condition, and compounding the stress, Montana’s interstate roads are in the top third of the states experiencing substantial increase since 2000 in vehicle miles of travel.
And then there are the Montana winters, the snow and the ice, complicating conditions for any motor vehicle, but even more so for the 80,000-pound roadway user in the lane next to you.
But it’s not only the size of the commercial vehicle. If you’ve been in a truck accident, you’re now also facing a trucking company that has many trucks, lawsuits, attorneys and insurance adjusters. The enormity of the challenge cannot be overstated. It’s imperative to seek the guidance of knowledgeable counsel as soon as possible to navigate the complexities of settlement and obtain the best positive outcome.
