In 2020, almost 147,000 people were injured, and nearly 5,000 died in crashes involving large trucks. Most of the time, it wasn’t the truck drivers who got hurt; it was the people in other cars.
If you’ve been in a crash like this and don’t know where to start, reaching out to the top truck accident attorneys could help you figure out what to do next. It’s easy to blame the driver, but sometimes the trucking company is at fault. Things like bad maintenance, poor driver training, or unsafe cargo loading can lead to accidents.
Let’s look at some common ways trucking companies can be negligent and how that can cause crashes.
Inadequate Maintenance of Vehicles
Big trucks need regular care to stay safe on the road. Drivers are supposed to check things like brakes, lights, and wipers before and after each trip. If they find a problem, they report it, and the company is supposed to fix it.
But some trucking companies skip repairs or delay maintenance to save money. This is dangerous. A truck with bad brakes might not stop in time. A worn-out tire could blow out and cause a crash.
When a trucking company doesn’t maintain its trucks, it puts everyone on the road in danger. If an accident happens because of something like brake failure, the company is responsible. Maintenance isn’t optional; it’s necessary to keep people safe.
Failing to Train and Screen Drivers
Driving a big truck isn’t like driving a car. These trucks are heavy, complicated, and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why trucking companies aren’t just supposed to hire drivers with the right licenses; they’re also supposed to train them properly for the job.
Screening drivers is just as important. Companies need to check if drivers have clean records and the skills to handle the job. If a driver has a history of reckless driving or accidents, the company should fix the problem either with extra training or by not hiring them at all.
Even after drivers are hired, companies need to pay attention to their behavior. If a driver is acting dangerously or not following the rules, the company needs to step in before something bad happens.
If an accident happens because a driver wasn’t prepared or wasn’t fit to be on the road, the company is responsible for that negligence.
Hour of Service Violations
Truck drivers often have tight deadlines, and some companies push them to keep driving longer than they should. This is dangerous because tired drivers can’t react quickly to hazards.
There are rules about how many hours truck drivers can drive before taking a break, but some companies ignore these. Drivers can become exhausted or even turn to drugs to stay awake. A tired or distracted driver is more likely to miss a hazard, fall asleep, or cause a crash.
When trucking companies ignore these rules and overwork their drivers, they’re putting everyone on the road at risk. If an accident happens because of this, it’s the company’s responsibility.
Negligent Hiring
Every truck driver is mandated to have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). And to get this license, they have to practice and pass tests.
But just having a CDL doesn’t mean a driver is ready to handle every type of truck. Some trucking companies skip checking if a driver has the right experience or skills for the job. For example, a driver might know how to handle a smaller truck but not a massive 18-wheeler.
When a company hires someone who isn’t qualified and that driver causes a crash, the company is responsible.
