Clearwater Vehicle Transporter Truck Accidents
All sorts of motor vehicles, including cars, boats, vans, smaller trucks, and motorcycles, are typically transported from manufacturing companies through cargo carriers, flatbed trucks, and other kinds of vehicle transporters. This whole transportation process has little room for mistakes, both during loading and transportation. Otherwise, serious accidents and severe injuries can and do occur.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were about 499,000 reported collisions that involved large trucks, including vehicle transporter trucks, in 2018. Further, the FMCSA estimates that 107,000 of these crashes resulted in injuries, while 4,415 resulted in deaths.
Top Causes of Clearwater Vehicle Transporter Truck Accidents
Due to the sheer weight and size of these massive vehicle transporters, a lot of things can easily go wrong and result in catastrophic accidents with one of these haulers. The most common causes of accidents that involve vehicle transporter trucks include:
- Driver fatigue or drowsy, overworked truck drivers
- Inexperienced or inadequately trained drivers
- Improper securing, loading, or unloading of vehicles on the transporter
- Rollover truck incidents
- Failure to follow proper safety regulations and rules
- Losing control of the truck
- Inadequate truck maintenance leading to tire blowouts, brake malfunctions, etc.
Getting Compensation for Vehicle Transporter Truck Accidents
Vehicle transporters are typically operated and owned by independent trucking companies, and vehicle companies only use their hauling services. In some cases, however, auto dealerships or manufacturers also hire their own drivers to transport their vehicles. Either way, there’s typically an entity that manages or owns these transporter trucks besides the drivers. This means that it’s the huge corporation operating these trucks may be held liable for a negligent truck driver’s actions.
While the truck driver caused the accident, you may also be able to file a claim against the driver’s employer and claim compensation from the driver’s insurance coverage and/or the trucking company’s liability insurance. Depending on the specific facts of the accident, the employer can be held vicariously liable for the driver’s mistakes while working within their job responsibilities. Likewise, the employer can be held responsible for its own errors, like employing a driver with a history of DUI or a poor driving record.
Also, you may be entitled to recover compensation for a vehicle transporter truck accident from the trucking company and/or driver that failed to follow federal trucking laws. For instance, service hours rules impose a predetermined amount of hours that drivers can spend driving trucks to prevent driver fatigue.
Likewise, trucking companies are required under law to always follow the rules for timely and proper truck maintenance. This means putting unsafe or improperly maintained vehicle transporter trucks on the road could make the companies liable for the accidents and injuries the trucks caused. Ultimately, injured victims may pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the vehicle transporter truck accident.
Talk to a Clearwater Vehicle Transporter Truck Accident Attorney Now
At Tragos, Sartes, & Tragos, our Clearwater vehicle transporter truck accident attorney can safeguard your legal rights to pursue fair compensation and help you hold the truck driver and trucking company accountable for all the damages you’ve suffered. Fill out our online form or call us at (727) 441-9030 to schedule a free evaluation of your vehicle transporter truck accident case now.