Hiring, Training and Supervision of Drivers
Holding the Employers of Truck Drivers Accountable
Before a trucking company entrusts a driver with the operation of a massive vehicle that can cause catastrophic injuries and death when it is involved in an accident, it has an obligation to determine that the employee can do the job safely. It also has an ongoing obligation to supervise that driver's performance.
At Fischer Goldasich, LLC, in Birmingham, Alabama, our attorneys hold trucking companies accountable for the actions of their drivers when they have been negligent in failing to properly screen, train and supervise employees. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer.
Understanding Trucking Companies' Responsibilities
Some truck accidents are directly caused by trucking company negligence. For instance, trucking companies may fail to provide for adequate vehicle inspections or put policies into place that prevent their employees from complying with safety regulations.
However, trucking companies can also be held liable when the direct cause of an accident is negligence on the part of an individual truck driver or other individual employee.
Trucking companies are legally required to meet certain standards when it comes to the hiring, training and supervision of their employees. Some of these are general standards that apply to most employers, such as an obligation to adequately screen for criminal backgrounds.
Additional standards are set in the federal and Alabama motor carrier safety regulations. There must be appropriate procedures for monitoring hours of service and other safety standards and disciplining drivers who violate these rules. Trucking companies must also have drug and alcohol testing and awareness programs for their drivers.
Keeping a Focus on All Possible Lawsuit Defendants
Our attorneys are experienced at investigating truck accident circumstances and determining when trucking companies may be responsible for negligence with regard to hiring, training and supervision of drivers.
Performing this analysis is an important part of preparing a truck accident case, because involving trucking companies as defendants in a lawsuit often increases the amount of insurance coverage available. This, in turn, can increase the amount of compensation that the victim or his or her family will actually be able to recover for catastrophic injuries and other losses.
Contact us today to have our team of experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys begin working on your case.