Large commercial trucks are a vital element of the American economy and are crucial for transporting goods from coast to coast. Although we rely on this shipping method for many of our needs, sharing the road with large trucks can be hazardous, and about 500,000 truck crashes are reported each year in the United States.
As a popular stopping point for truckers traveling coast-to-coast, Lawrence sees its fair share of large commercial trucks and trucking accidents. If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed in a Lawrence truck crash, a Hollis Law Firm personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for the damages you have accumulated.
Who Is Responsible for Damages Suffered in a Lawrence, Kansas Truck Crash?
Large commercial trucks cause some of Kansas’s most catastrophic and deadly motor vehicle accidents. Due to the increased danger of operating such a large vehicle, we would like to believe that truck drivers obey all safety guidelines. However, just as we cannot count on every motorist to follow all traffic regulations, we cannot trust all truck drivers to follow the rules. Negligent truck drivers in Lawrence can put their own safety and the safety of those around them at risk by:
- Driving aggressively
- Driving while distracted
- Failing to obey traffic signs or signals
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Passing illegally
- Speeding
- Swerving
- Texting while driving
Although it is easy to put all of the blame on the truck driver, many times, there are multiple parties that may be held responsible for a truck crash. At Hollis Law Firm, our attorneys conduct their own investigation into the incident to determine all of the possible liable parties.
Parties that may be held responsible for a truck accident in Lawrence, Kansas, include the:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Owner of the cargo
- Cargo loaders
- Manufacturer of the truck or its components
- Trucker’s employer
Truck crashes can be caused by the negligent behavior of any of these parties, a combination of several of them, or something or someone else entirely. Your Hollis Law Firm personal injury lawyer may request a scientific analysis and interpretation of the incident by an accident reconstruction specialist to pinpoint who could be held responsible for your damages.
Types of Large Commercial Truck Accidents in Lawrence, Kansas
Commercial 18-wheelers are commonplace on Kansas highways. Although these colossal vehicles are essential to the functioning of our economy, they pose considerable danger to all who share the road with them. Types of commercial trucking accidents that occur on Kansas roadways include:
- Blindspot crashes
- Head-on truck accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Rear-end crashes
- Rollover accidents
- Tire blowout accidents
- Underride accidents
- Runaway trailer crashes
Semi-trucks are not the only types of trucks that threaten our roadways. Garbage trucks, delivery trucks, and other work trucks such as dump trucks can put other motorists at risk of severe injury or fatality. These trucks frequent residential streets to transport loads of waste, soil, debris, gravel, and other building materials. The loads carried by these trucks are often top-heavy, making them susceptible to tipping over or dropping debris.
