When a truck accident occurs, the driver is typically the first party to be held responsible. While a truck driver error can cause an accident, at times, another party may be partly or wholly to blame for a truck crash.
The trucking company is one of those parties. Some of the ways a trucking company can contribute to an accident are:
Negligent hiring and inadequate training
A trucking company that rushes through the hiring process may put unqualified drivers behind the wheel. For instance, when a company fails to check driving records, conduct background checks or perform pre-employment drug testing.
After hiring a driver, a company may also fail to offer adequate training on handling a truck, conducting pre-trip inspections, handling cargo, hours of service (HOS) regulations, safety measures and emergency response.
Companies often negligently hire drivers or fail to offer adequate training to address the ongoing driver shortage issue. This decision usually endangers other road users.
Prioritizing profits over safety
A significant percentage of truckers in the U.S. believe trucking companies place higher importance on profit than on their protection. This is seen when drivers are pushed to exceed HOS to maximize delivery, encouraged to speed to meet unrealistic deadlines or paid using compensation methods that encourage risky behaviors, such as pay-per-mile or offering bonuses for completing deliveries ahead of schedule.
Poor vehicle maintenance
A trucking company that skips routine inspections and maintenance risks its drivers and other road users. Mechanical failures, such as brake failures, tire blowouts, steering and suspension issues and lighting/signal failures, cause many accidents.
Cutting costs and maximizing uptime are some of the reasons behind a company skipping routine maintenance.
Some trucking companies make decisions that can lead to harm. If you are injured in a truck accident, it’s important to understand how to determine who is liable and how to hold them responsible.
