You will have to fight for your rights after a Louisiana truck accident. But fight against whom?

A shocking accident with a large truck becomes a challenge for those involved, especially for the victims, either killed or seriously injured, and their family and friends. Very quickly, however, a number of important decisions need to be made: you need to protect your interests if the crash was caused by the truck’s driver in order to get compensation for your loss, the medical expenses, loss of income, and so many other damages that you envision in the coming months or years.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, your case will be fought against a motor carrier and its insurers. In fact, it could prove even more complicated. In some cases, liability remains unclear, and there could be more than one party from whom you could claim.

Let’s look at the possibilities:

• The truck owner. Usually, the company owning the truck is liable. This could be a logistics company (UPS, Fedex, etc.), a government agency, a private carrier, a waste management firm, or any kind of institution or corporation operating trucks. Frequently, one firm owns the tractor and another one owns the trailer. Both could be liable.

• The freight owner. There are cases where damages were caused or aggravated by the type of cargo being carried, for which the motor carrier can’t be held liable.

• The truck or trailer manufacturer. The crash could have been caused by a defective part of the truck or trailer. A claim against one or more manufacturers can increase your chances of getting compensation.

• The driver’s employer. The driver is not necessarily employed by the truck’s owner. In accidents caused by the negligence or recklessness of the driver, his employer can be held responsible.

• A truck maintenance company. Many trucking companies sub-contract their trucks’ maintenance to garages, dealers, or technical maintenance firms, who could be held liable if the crash was caused by maintenance that they should have performed.

Even more parties could be involved in a large truck accident, such as third-party vehicles. If a multiple choice of liable parties allows you to claim from a variety of corporations with adequate financial means to meet the compensation to which you are entitled, then the claim and legal process is likely to be complex and time consuming. You will need an experienced Louisiana truck accident law firm to handle such a case, such as the New Orleans-based Young Firm.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Louisiana truck accident, then immediately contact the attorneys of the Young Firm for a free consultation of your case at (504) 680-4100 (local) or (866) 660-7220 (toll free), or by sending us an e-mail.