Richmond Hill Truck Accident Lawyer
If a large commercial truck collides with a small passenger vehicle at high speeds, the results can be catastrophic. Owing to the large discrepancies in vehicle size and weight, if a large commercial vehicle is involved in a collision with a smaller car, the truck driver might sustain only mild or moderate injuries, whereas the occupants of the passenger vehicle could be severely injured. Indeed, collisions caused by negligent truck drivers in Richmond Hill often have fatal consequences for accident victims.
Serious truck accidents are on the rise. Recently, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported a 9% year over year increase in commercial motor vehicle collisions on the province’s roads and highways, with thousands of truck accidents resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.
Like the operators of every motor vehicle on the province’s roads and highways, commercial truck drivers are subject to the traffic rules and regulations outlined in Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. As such, truck drivers owe a duty of care to other road-users, including:
- Other drivers
- Their passengers
- Motorcycle riders
- Cyclists
- Pedestrians
- And others
Truck drivers have a legal responsibility to operate their commercial vehicles with a reasonable degree of caution that takes the safety of other road-users into consideration at all times. Additionally, truck drivers are subject to strict commercial vehicle safety requirements that must be fulfilled in order to reduce the risk of injury-causing accidents.
However, owing to the rigorous demands of their strenuous jobs, certain truck drivers may feel the need to violate traffic laws in order to arrive at their destinations on time. They might engage in improper, unlawful conduct behind the wheel, including:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of amphetamines, stimulants, and other illicit drugs
- Fatigued driving
- Eating while the vehicle is in motion
- Improperly changing lanes
- Ignoring traffic signs/signals
- Texting while driving
- Distracted driving
- And more
If the violation of a traffic law causes a collision in which another road-user is injured, the truck driver might be considered negligent. Therefore, they might be liable for damages incurred by the injured victims of the accident they caused.
However, depending on the circumstances of the collision, it might be determined that other parties and/or entities are also responsible for compensating injured accident victims. For example, if a truck driver’s employer was aware that they had a history of negligent driving but allowed them to continue driving, the company might be considered contributorily negligent. If so, they might also be liable for damages incurred by injured truck accident victims.
There are several things you should know after being injured in a truck accident. By taking advantage of a free initial consultation with our Richmond Hill truck accident lawyers, you will have the opportunity to learn about options for financial compensation that might be open to you. To learn more, call 1-800-JUSTICE and receive a cost-free, no-obligation consultation with our truck accident lawyers serving Richmond Hill.
Call 1-800-JUSTICE Today for a Free Initial Consultation
Our Richmond Hill truck accident lawyers offer all prospective clients a free initial consultation, during which they can ask important questions, receive case-specific legal advice, and learn whether they might be entitled to compensation. To speak with our truck accident lawyers serving Richmond Hill, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
