Georgia Trucker’s Driving History May Make Trucking Company Liable for Accidents

Trucking companies and truck drivers are subject to complicated federal and state laws and regulations. An experienced Lake Harbin truck accident attorney can evaluate how the laws apply to a victim's case. The Law Office of Shane Smith can help preserve essential evidence and help victims receive compensation from the truck driver, the trucking company, and/or their insurance carriers.

Georgia statutes and federal regulations require trucking companies with interstate trucking businesses to conduct a pre-employment background check for all drivers. Trucking companies are required to ensure that unsafe drivers and those with substance abuse problems do not drive tractor-trailers on state highways.

A trucker's driving record is critical evidence in imposing liability upon a trucking company or its insurers. A trucking company must obtain an applicant's DMV report for purposes of any moving violations during the prior three years. In a commercial truck accident lawsuit, an experienced Lake Harbin truck accident attorney will bring a claim for negligent entrustment, hiring, or retention against the trucking company. The claim asserts that the trucking company was negligent in hiring the driver based on his background information. A trucking company may be liable for a driver's accident if a driver's background check should have indicated that he was unfit for hire. A Lake Harbin truck accident lawyer can obtain all the necessary evidence following a truck accident.

Trucking companies are only required to keep specific records about cabs, trailers, and drivers for limited amount of time. An attorney can put a trucking company on notice that it must preserve evidence related to the accident because an accident victim has a claim against the company. The accident-related evidence may subsequently be requested by the victim's attorney.

Preserved evidence may be used to prove that a trucking company or the truck driver in the accident did not follow federal mandates about resting times. Paperwork may indicate that a trucking company neglected warning signs about hazardous cab or trailer conditions.

If you or someone you know has been hurt in a truck accident, meet with a Lake Harbin truck accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law by calling (980) 246-2656

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