After suffering injuries in a truck accident, most people focus their attention on the driver who caused the crash. However, there is often more to the story when a truck accident occurs.
Trucking companies and truck drivers must follow strict guidelines to avoid trucking collisions. When either the truck driver or trucking company fails to follow guidelines, they can both be held responsible after a truck accident.
One of the most common causes of truck accidents is negligent hiring.
Trucking companies must use reasonable care when hiring truck drivers. If a company hires someone with an unsafe or reckless driving history, the results can be catastrophic.
Trucking companies must conduct thorough background checks, along with health and wellness checks to ensure that the employer is suited to drive an 18-wheeler. Trucking companies must also do routine recordkeeping of the driver’s performance.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific guidelines trucking companies must follow to avoid hiring negligence:
Proving that negligent hiring played a significant role in your truck accident injuries will be difficult without an experienced attorney. An attorney can thoroughly investigate your case and help you prove that the trucking company did not use reasonable care when they hired the driver.
For example, your attorney can help you determine if the trucking company failed to perform regular drug and alcohol tests, ignored prior driving offenses, or failed to perform a background check.
If you were injured in a truck accident, contact us today at (888) 273-1045 to schedule a consultation!
All too often, accident victims are steamrolled by insurance companies determined to minimize or deny their claims. Don't let this happen to you. Hire us to fight for the compensation you deserve.
