Maritime Trucking Accidents

With goods being transported all across the country via truck, there is a tremendous amount of truck traffic that passes through California en route to our nation's  roads and highways.

Like all motor vehicles, large trucks are sophisticated pieces of machinery that require regular maintenance in order to properly, and safely, function. Before they even hit the road, trucks are supposed to be examined to ensure the functionality of all parts. Brakes, brake lights, side reflectors, trailer hitches, and the engine are all truck parts that need to be in good working order for a truck to be safe while on the road.

Truck drivers, in control of these motorized behemoths, have a responsibility, like all other motorists, to be cautious and diligent drivers, always obeying the rules of the road so as to prevent accidents and injury. However, if a driver chooses not to follow the rules of the road, drives recklessly in dangerous road conditions, chooses not to regularly inspect his or her truck to ensure complete functionality, or chooses to abandon rules that have been set in place for truck drivers to always perform at an optimum level, such as truck driver fatigue, then that driver has chosen negligence over safety and may be entirely responsible for any damage he or she causes on the road.

Trucking companies can also be held responsible for the dangers that trucks bring to the road. If a trucking company fails to inspect its truck, and sends that truck out on the road knowing the truck may not be safe to other motorists, then that trucking company can be held accountable for the damages and injuries that its truck causes while on the road.