Atlanta Truck Crash Lawyers Discuss Negligent Hiring of Truck Drivers

Georgia laws and federal regulations govern the safe operation of commercial vehicles that share the highway with passenger vehicles. Trucking companies are required to make sure that drivers are properly licensed, pass medical certifications and have the appropriate training to drive a commercial truck. When trucking companies do not uphold their responsibility to hire safe drivers, they can be held liable when a driver causes an accident.

An example of the negligent hiring of a truck driver

A jury awarded two brothers more than $52 million in a lawsuit filed after a commercial truck crossed the center line and collided with their vehicle head-on. The brothers claimed that the crash left them with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and injuries to their back and arms. The truck driver, who was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the crash, admitted fault and was promptly fired by his employer. The brothers claimed that the trucking company was negligent in hiring the truck driver, who had previous safety violations along with a criminal record, which should have prevented him from qualifying to drive a commercial truck.

Is the truck driver shortage making trucking companies take bigger risks in hiring drivers?

The American Trucking Association (ATA) reports that more than 70% of the goods consumed in the U.S. are transported throughout the country by truck. The rising demand for those goods means that the trucking industry needs to hire more than 900,000 drivers to keep up with the increasing demand. One of the factors contributing to the shortage is the aging of the truck driving workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average age for truck drivers is 55 in the U.S.. Drivers are retiring, and not enough new drivers are taking their places.

When can a trucking company be held responsible for their hiring practices?

Trucking companies can be held liable for negligent hiring when they hire drivers with spotty driving records, drug or alcohol abuse problems, and/or certain criminal convictions. Furthermore, trucking companies and fleet operators that do not comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) regulations regarding regular drug and alcohol testing, providing appropriate training for new drivers, maintaining safe trucks, reviewing driver logs and penalizing drivers who commit safety violations can be held accountable when their drivers’ negligence cause injury and death to other drivers and passengers.

Those who sustain serious injuries in crashes that result from a truck driver’s negligence may be able to take legal action against the truck driver, the trucking company and other parties with liability in the crash. A skilled Georgia truck crash lawyer from Harris Lowry Manton LLP will make sure that those responsible for your injuries or for the death of a loved one are held accountable.

Given the massive size differential, trucking accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and death. It is vital that you have the representation of an experienced injury attorney who knows how to fight intelligently on your behalf. At Harris Lowry Manton, LLP, our Georgia truck accident attorneys work tirelessly to secure high-value compensations for our clients. To set up a free consultation, complete our contact form, or call us in Atlanta at 404-961-7650, or in Savannah at 912-651-9967.