A tractor trailer accident (semi truck accident) is different from a "regular" car accident when it comes to preparing a case for trial. If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, tractor trailer or semi truck, you have experienced, first-hand, the extreme force that can result from an impact between a passenger car and a truck. Oftentimes, when such an impact occurs, people are severely injured or even killed in the tractor trailer accident.
The insurance companies that provide coverage to these truck drivers and the trucking companies take these crashes very seriously as they quickly become concerned about liability. You can be sure that as soon as a truck crash occurs, the truck driver is trained to immediately call his employer, the trucking company, to report the truck crash. This is true even if the truck driver doesn't think he did anything to cause the crash. Why? Because insurance companies realizes that if liability is established - if their insured truck driver is at-fault for the car crash - the insurance company may have to pay a lot of money to cover all of the injured's harms and losses (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life).
The actual coverage that is provided to a trucking company can be quite confusing. The trucking company may try to argue that the driver was an independent contractor and thus, they don't have to cover his negligent actions. An experienced truck crash attorney will know what to look for in order to disprove this theory. In Illinois specifically, there are truck regulations that do hold the truck company responsible for the actions of truck drivers driving leased trucks. On the other end of the spectrum, there may be more than enough coverage via the truck driver's individual policy, the truck company's policy, and even an excess insurance policy.
The investigation into a tractor trailer accident is extensive. An investigation team, hired on your behalf, should immediately go to the scene and take photographs, take measurements of the skid marks and other indications of impact, interview witnesses and set up a station to examine the vehicle and truck and trailer to look for braking and speed indicators. If possible, the investigator should review the truck driver's log books and the black box (also known as an onboard computer). The investigation team may contact the state department of motor vehicles to make sure that the tractor trailer and truck was properly maintained, inspected and the proper intervals, and was operated according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrative regulations. Sometimes, it is even appropriate to contact the District Attorney if criminal charges are warranted.
So what should you do if you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a truck, tractor trailer or semi? I recommend speaking with a Missouri or Illinois truck accident attorney.
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