When a massive commercial truck collides with another vehicle, on top of dealing with catastrophic injuries, acute emotional toil, and overwhelming financial burdens, victims often wonder who they can blame. Is it the driver behind the wheel, or does the trucking company bear the blame? Unfortunately, the answer is not always straightforward. If you have been injured in a truck crash, contact our Albuquerque truck crash lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC today to get your questions answered.

Is the Driver Always to Blame When Things Go Wrong?

Not necessarily. You can certainly hold truck drivers liable when their actions cause crashes—for instance, if a driver was texting while driving, speeding through a construction zone, or operating their vehicle while sleep-deprived, they very well may bear responsibility for any injuries you suffered.

When Do Trucking Companies Get Pulled Into the Picture?

Trucking companies cannot just hire drivers and wash their hands of any crashes. Under a legal principle called “respondeat superior,” employers are often on the hook for what their employees do while working. Additionally, if the company failed to properly screen their drivers before putting them behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle, check driving records, conduct drug tests, or verify that their drivers actually knew how to handle such massive trucks, they could be directly responsible when crashes happen.

What About Cases Where Everyone Shares Some Blame?

Real life is messy, and truck crashes often involve multiple parties making mistakes. Maybe a driver made an error in judgment, but they were also driving a truck with worn-out brakes that the company should have replaced months ago. Or perhaps a driver fell asleep at the wheel because their employer pressured them to drive beyond legal hour limits.

New Mexico recognizes this complex reality through its “comparative negligence” system. Even if you contributed to the crash in some way, you can still recover compensation as long as you were not more at fault than the other parties involved.

What Evidence Actually Matters in These Cases?

Building a strong truck crash case to claim compensation for your injuries requires the right evidence. Modern trucks are essentially computers on wheels, equipped with electronic systems that record crucial data about speed, braking, and driver behavior. This “black box” information can prove invaluable to your case.

Other critical evidence includes driver personnel files, vehicle maintenance records, company training materials, phone records, and witness statements.

Why Does It Matter Who Is Actually Responsible?

The distinction between driver and company liability is not just pedantic—it directly affects your ability to recover fair compensation. Individual truck drivers typically carry basic insurance coverage, while trucking companies maintain much higher policy limits. Plus, if you hold the company liable, you can open up additional sources of compensation. However, this will likely cause the trucking company to aggressively defend against your claims.

Get Professional Legal Help With the Albuquerque Truck Crash Lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC

If you need help holding a trucker or trucking company liable for your injuries in a truck crash, trust the Albuquerque truck crash lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC to bring our more than 20 years of experience to your case. For a free consultation, call us today at 505-900-3559 or fill out our online form. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we gladly serve clients in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas.