Truck accidents often leave devastation in their wake. Given their sheer size and the speeds that truck accidents often occur at, victims can be left with catastrophic injuries. This harm certainly takes a physical toll, but the emotional and financial losses can seem insurmountable. If you or a loved one is in this position now, then you might be worried about how you’re going to make ends meet and find accountability.
Is suing a negligent trucker enough?
In these circumstances, legal action against a negligent trucker can certainly put you on a path to recovering compensation and obtaining a sense of justice, but will it be enough? Probably not. Given the extent of the damages at play, a trucker probably won’t have the resources needed to fully pay out a judgment against him or her. This can leave you in a precarious position where you’ve won your case but still can’t recoup your losses.
A look at vicarious liability
Fortunately, you might have other options. A vicarious liability lawsuit against a trucker’s employer might allow you to hold that employer accountable for the actions of its employee. If successful, you could end up reaching into a deeper pool of resources that is much more likely to be able to compensate you for your damages. In order to reach that outcome, though, you’ll need to be able to prove certain legal elements, such as that the trucker was performing his or her job duties at the time that the accident occurred.
Don’t oversimplify your case
These personal injury cases might look straightforward and pretty easy on their face, but the truth of the matter is that they can be enormously complicated. If you don’t appropriately prepare your claim, then you put yourself at risk of losing and recovering nothing. In other words, there’s too much at stake in your case to go it alone. That’s why many truck accident victims who are similarly situated choose to seek out assistance from an experienced attorney.
