Truck drivers are tasked with navigating fast-moving highways with precision. They must be able to maintain proper control over 80,000 pounds of cargo that could easily shift and cause a serious accident, for those who are involved in an accident with a truck, proving the fault of more than the driver is sometimes necessary. Negligent hiring of truck drivers could offer some additional leeway in recovering fair compensation. Talk to a Phoenix truck accident attorney today.
What Is Negligent Hiring of Truck Drivers?
A trucking company has various responsibilities regarding operating safely. That includes maintaining the trucks it owns and ensuring drivers are not driving beyond federal requirements. However, trucking companies must also hire drivers who are skilled and trained to handle the work they face, or they could be found negligent in hiring.
To prove negligence in this area, your attorney will work to understand who is behind the wheel and whether they are qualified to be there. This may include looking at details such as the following:
- Does the driver have a commercial driver’s license? More so, that license must be for the size and type of truck that they are operating.
- Does the trucking company know that the driver has experience behind the wheel? If they did not conduct any type of training, they must verify that the truck driver has the necessary skills.
- Does the trucking company know that the driver was a previous risk? For example, if the truck driver was hired to fill a role, even if the trucking company knew they had been involved in numerous speeding or DUIs in the past, they could be liable.
If your attorney can demonstrate that the trucking company hired someone for the job who lacked training, experience, or ability, or who had a proven track record of creating risks to others, the trucking company could be held responsible for the losses you suffered.
How Your Lawyer Investigates Negligent Hiring
The trucking company is not going to outright tell you that the driver is a risk factor if you are the victim in the accident. However, there are various resources available that can be used to help document this. Some examples may include:
- Witness statements on the way the driver operates
- Verification of the wrong commercial driver’s license
- Lack of training or documented skills required for the type of vehicle
- Service logs that demonstrate that the driver was involved in previous violations
- Truck logs that demonstrate that the driver was at risk, such as previous driving under the influence or speeding claims
With this aggressive insight into what occurred and why it happened, the truck accident lawyer can argue that not only the driver but also the trucking company was at fault. This can prove very valuable since it may allow the victim to pursue compensation against multiple parties, further reducing their financial loss.
Seek a Free Consultation with a Truck Accident Lawyer
At Sargon Law Group, our truck accident lawyer can help you gain insight into what happened and why it happened. Proving negligent hiring in a truck accident can be challenging, but our extensive experience may make it possible for us to seek full compensation for the losses you incurred due to the trucking company’s mistakes in hiring or maintaining a driver. Call today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced Phoenix accident attorneys.