When a commercial truck driver acts in a negligent or dangerous manner and causes an accident, that driver should be held liable for his or her actions. However, in some situations, the trucking company may also be held liable for the driver’s behavior. If the company should have known that the driver had the tendency to drive in a dangerous manner, the company should not have hired the driver and allowed him to drive its large commercial trucks. In such situations, accident victims may receive maximum compensation for any resulting injuries from both the driver and the trucking company. An experienced truck accident attorney knows how to investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident to identify whether or not the trucking company was negligent.
Some factors that trucking companies should consider when hiring drivers include:
- Does the driver have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
- Did the driver pass a drug test?
- Does the driver report a history of drug or alcohol dependency?
- Does the driver have a clean driving record with no history of reckless driving?
- Does the driver have a violent criminal record?
- Is the driver in adequate medical condition to operate a commercial vehicle?
- How many accidents are on the driver’s record? Were there any fatalities involved?
Furthermore, an attorney will look into the history of the company itself to see whether the company has a history of hiring unsafe drivers.
Contact a Coweta County Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation
Just like truck drivers have to drive in a safe manner, truck companies have to ensure that they are not negligently hiring drivers who may likely be unsafe. Bringing legal action against a truck company and their legal team may seem like a daunting task to accident victims, however, an experienced truck accident attorney knows how to hold these companies responsible for any negligent behavior. If you have been in an accident, call Shane Smith Law today at (980) 246-2656, and our attorneys will work to make sure you receive the full compensation you deserve.