How Can A Truck Accident Attorney Prosecute An Errant Trucking Company?
You might be able to file a claim for punitive damages against the corporation that owns and operates the vehicle that caused injuries to you or a member of your family if certain conditions are met. These events likely occurred as a result of carelessness and negligence on the side of the transportation company or the personnel employed by it. Your truck accident lawyer may be able to show, based on the following scenarios, that you have a right to seek legal remedy as a result of the negligence of a trucking company:
1. Using a Crew With a Propensity Toward Dangerous Behavior
The trucking company will be liable for punitive damages if it fails to do the proper criminal background checks, drug or driving tests, or mental evaluations. If the company knew about a person's past unsafe practices, it might be accountable for its actions.
2. Unrealistic Quotas Which Encourage Reckless Driving
It is possible for a driver to feel pressured into driving dangerously to meet unrealistic deadlines and deliver items on time. Speeding, tailgating, and weaving across lanes of traffic are all dangerous driving habits that may lead to accidents. It's possible to show that there was a pattern by looking at traffic ticket data for a number of company drivers.
3. A Trucking Company Dictates That Its Drivers Work Longer Hours
If a trucking firm requires its drivers to log more hours behind the wheel than the state and federal rules allow, the company could be held liable for punitive damages in the event of an accident.
This occurred as a result of the company's decision to continue with a trip despite the fact that its drivers were exhausted. A truck accident lawyer could utilize GPS data and footage from onboard video cameras to demonstrate that the driver was out on the road after normal business hours.
4. The Company Fails To Properly Maintain Vehicles
Trucks with poor maintenance will have mechanical problems, which increase the risk to drivers and passengers. It is possible that the transportation firm will be required to pay punitive damages as a consequence of disregarding maintenance. The trucking firm is required to do routine inspections, repairs, and maintenance on the tractors, trailers, and other vehicles in its fleet.
5. Dangerous Vehicle Loading
If the cargo is improperly loaded, the truck driver will have less time to respond in the case of an accident, and the cargo will spill into the road. If your injuries were caused by the shipping company's hazardous loading, your truck accident attorney might be entitled to seek punitive damages from them.
The sheer size and weight of a truck involved in a transportation accident generally cause severe injuries, fatalities, and extensive property damage. The accident may have been caused by the trucking company's carelessness, which could result in a fair settlement. Immediately see a truck accident lawyer if you have been involved in a trucking accident.