State Police have reported that earlier this week a truck driver was involved in an accident after hitting the barriers on a side of an interstate bridge. Evidently, news reports indicated that the truck driver was transporting wine bottles to California. While he was driving on the bridge, he hit the bridge’s barrier, which caused his truck to begin skidding and crossing all of the southbound lanes. The truck ended up hitting the barriers on the other side of the bridge before finally flipping onto its side.
A witness to the accident was actually sleeping in the back of the semi-truck’s cab, and he stated that the aftermath was startling. He explained that the truck was full of smoke, and he had worried that the truck was spilling gasoline. The truck actually belongs to a company that has never been involved in a crash of this nature. The Department of Transportation indicated that out of the 150 crashes on that bridge, about 13 involved a semi-truck. State Patrol cited the truck driver for negligent driving. No signs of drugs or alcohol were found.
Who Can Sue in a Personal Injury Lawsuit Following a Truck Accident in New Mexico
Driving can always be dangerous. However, when a semi-truck is involved the consequences of an accident can be particularly devastating. In the unfortunate case when an accident does occur, it is also important for the victims to know who the culpable parties actually are.
Many people assume that they can only sue if they were the other driver or a pedestrian in a trucking accident. However, that is not necessarily the case. In trucking accidents, an individual who was a passenger in the truck can also sue if they meet the elements of a personal injury suit. For example, in the above case, if the man in the cabin was also injured, he may be able to bring a suit against the truck driver or the trucking company.
Many people are not aware of all the potentially culpable parties in these sorts of suits. A plaintiff may sue the truck driver’s employer in addition to the actual driver if they can establish the elements of a negligence claim against that defendant. The plaintiff may be able to show that the employer should be held vicariously liable for their employee. However, in many of these truck accident situations, a trucking employer may hire their employee as an “independent contractor” in order to avoid suits of this nature.
Hiring a New Mexico Attorney to Assist in a Trucking Accident Suit
If you have been a victim of a trucking accident, it is important that you consider hiring a personal injury attorney to assist you in your case. As you can see, there are often many parties that can be joined as defendants, and the evidence presented may need to be tailored to each specific party. If you are successful, you may be entitled to both general and specific damages depending on the specific circumstances of your case. These cases can often be complex, and it is important that you are sufficiently prepared for what the process entails. Contact one of the experienced attorneys at the Fine Law Firm today at 505-889-FINE to schedule a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Texas Semi-Truck Accident Results in Fatality, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, April 1, 2015.
17-Year-Old Girl Killed after Logging Truck Crashes on Highway, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, May 27, 2015.