Suing a Trucking Company After an Accident
A trucking company may be legally responsible after a truck accident when its own negligence or the conduct of a driver or other person for whom it is legally responsible contributed to the crash. Whether the company can be sued depends on the employment relationships, contracts, vehicle ownership and facts surrounding the collision.
Potential issues can include unsafe hiring or retention, inadequate training, maintenance failures, loading problems or company practices that contributed to unsafe driving. In other cases, responsibility may centre on the truck driver rather than an independent act by the company. Multiple businesses can sometimes be involved, including carriers, vehicle owners, maintenance providers or cargo companies.
When a Trucking Company May Be Liable
Truck accident investigations often require evidence beyond the ordinary police report. Driver qualification records, electronic logging information, vehicle inspection and maintenance records, dispatch information, onboard electronic data and company documents may be relevant. Some evidence may be retained only for particular periods, making early investigation important.
Commercial vehicles can also carry different insurance arrangements from ordinary passenger cars. Identifying all potentially responsible parties and applicable policies is an important part of assessing the claim.
Investigating a Truck Accident Claim
Do not assume that the logo on the truck identifies every responsible company. The legal relationships need to be investigated.
If you suffered a serious injury in a Pennsylvania truck crash, a truck accident lawyer can examine the carrier, driver, ownership records, available electronic evidence and insurance coverage. A lawsuit is appropriate only when the facts and law support liability, but prompt investigation can help preserve the information needed to make that determination.