Truck Driver Error

Truck Driver Error Accident Lawyers in Albuquerque, New Mexico

It can be frustrating when you are involved in any motor vehicle accident, especially when it is a trucking accident due to truck driver errors.  Truck drivers are supposed to be trained how to drive properly, are required to get special licenses, and trucking companies are required to continue training and monitoring their employees.  Nevertheless, there are still too many big rig crashes on our roadways.

Unfortunately due to their size and weight, these 18 wheeler wrecks usually end up causing the rest of us serious personal injuries or even wrongful death.  Many times the truck driver errors causing these crashes are preventable and completely avoidable.  Victims and their families who are hurt or killed in New Mexico trucking crashes have rights to obtain compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.  Call the NM Truck Accident Attorneys, to learn how we can help you and your family protect your rights to compensation.

Photo of a minor accident involving a delivery truck and a car on the side of a road in Albuquerque, NM during dusk. The position of the vehicles implies the delivery truck driver might be at fault. A couple of first responder vehicles are present, assisting with the situation.

Liability for Truck Driver Errors

When a truck driver error results in a serious semi truck crash causing personal injuries, there are several ways to establish liability against the truck driver.  Under the common law, or judge-made law, a negligence cause of action holds a truck driver liable for failing to use reasonable care in the operation of his or her truck that a reasonably prudent person would under the circumstances.  This breach must be what causes your injuries in a crash.

Under statutory law, or law made by the Legislature, a violation of a statute by a truck driver’s error may result in a finding of negligence per se.  Under this legal doctrine, the truck driver and the trucking company may be negligent as a matter of law for violating a statute that is meant to protect you from the injuries that the truck crash caused.

The trucking company may also be liable for the truck driver errors if the truck driver was working within the scope of employment.  This is known as respondeat superior, and it is a type of vicarious liability principle of law.  This means that acts committed by an employee in furtherance of the employer’s business will result in the employer being liable.

Common Truck Driver Errors Which Result in Personal Injuries

There are many different types of truck driver errors which could result in an 18 wheeler crash causing personal injuries or wrongful death.  Our firm understands how to investigate these claims and prove the negligence of the truck driver.  We will also hold the trucking company liable for the truck driver’s errors which caused your injuries.

Some of the most common truck driver errors which could prove your case include the following:

  • Distracted driving (using a cell phone to make a call or texting, using a GPS device, playing with the music radio or handheld radio, or eating);
  • Drunk or drugged driving (using drugs to stay awake);
  • Hours of service violations;
  • Aggressive driving;
  • Failing to yield or stop;
  • Speeding;
  • Following too closely;
  • Improper lane changes or merges; and
  • Many other causes.

These causes are typically going to result in a finding of negligence against a truck driver.  Of the common causes that are statutory violations, it is likely that victims will also be able to hold the truck driver negligent per se.

Proving Truck Driver Errors

Our law firm knows that it may not always be easy to prove some truck driver errors.  Some of the most difficult to prove truck driver errors are those caused by improper maintenance of a tractor trailer and hours of service violations.  This is because the truck driver is the one responsible for creating and maintaining these documents.  This also means that a truck driver has access to these documents post-accident and could change them to escape liability.

However, there are still ways to prove the truck driver errors that caused your crash.  Using an experienced engineer or mechanic and help demonstrate what maintenance was actually performed versus what maintenance was falsified.  Experts can look at the brake pads, tires, cargo straps, and other parts of the 18 wheeler to determine whether they were properly cleaned, replaced, and serviced, or whether they were in need of replacement.

For hours of service violations, onboard trucking computers monitor the speed, time, and distance that a large commercial truck is operating.  If a truck driver falsifies an hours of service log, an experienced lawyer or expert can review the entries versus the truck computer data to check whether the records were falsified.  This can both establish liability and destroy a truck driver’s credibility in trial.

Call Us if You Were Injured in a New Mexico Trucking Accident Due to Truck Driver Errors

Handling trucking accident cases is what we do at the NM Truck Accident Attorneys.  Our Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers are knowledgable in both law and medicine to prove liability and damages in your case.  We have represented victims against some of the largest trucking companies in the country and against some of the most brazen, difficult, and negligent truck drivers imaginable.  We won’t allow them to talk their way out of their mistakes which caused your injuries.

Our initial consultations are free and we can meet you where you are.  Contact us at (505) 883-5000 to schedule an appointment to speak with one of our truck accident lawyers in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  You will not owe us money unless we win your case.

testimonials

  • I want to thank the Caruso Law Firm and all their kind, courteous staff! I couldn’t be more pleased with their service. I really appreciate all you have done to help my case.
    C. Saller, Albuquerque
  • Mark Caruso handled mine and my husband’s case and did a great job. They handled it very fast and got us more than I could imagine.
    R. Podril, Albuquerque
  • Caruso Law firm did a great job representing myself and Michael Zagone. Everything was explained in full detail to us. I would recommend your law firm to my friends.
    D. Lange, Albuquerque
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    J. Montoya, Albuquerque
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  • “I want to thank Caruso Law for helping to resolve our hit and run case. The driver’s insurance refused to even cover the cost of damage to our car. Once we went to Caruso they paid for the car. Caruso referred both myself and my injured fiancé to 1st Health where we both received medical care for back and neck injuries. They made the process simple, painless and no money came out of our pockets. To the people at Caruso, thanks for your help and service.”
    M. Zagone, Albuquerque
  • “I, Maria Moncada am very pleased with my case that Caruso Law Offices helped me settle. Thank you for everything, and I hope to never need your services again, but if I do I’ll be sure to come back. Thanks!”
    M. Moncada, Albuquerque
  • “My experience with Caruso Law Offices has been nothing but positive. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. It was nice to be able to stay informed about my case and also get call backs when I called. Thank you all very much for the hard work!”
    M. Lucero, Albuquerque

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Nothing can financially and emotionally prepare us for the injuries and suffering after a severe accident. Feeling overwhelmed, confused, and powerless in such a situation is normal, particularly if you are undergoing treatment.

Our New Mexico truck accident attorneys are aggressive, result-focused advocates for injured victims. Your free consultation is always with an attorney, not a paralegal. We handle truck accident cases throughout the entire state of New Mexico and all pueblos and reservations in New Mexico.

Get a free consultation by phone, at our office, your home, the hospital or other location. We travel the state representing clients, so we can meet you anywhere in New Mexico

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