Yes. In many trucking accident claims in Florida, the trucking company will often share responsibility for a crash involving one of its drivers.
Truck drivers are often employees or contractors working for commercial carriers. Under certain legal principles, companies can be held responsible for accidents caused by drivers operating within the scope of their job.
In addition, trucking companies may also be liable for their own actions if unsafe practices contributed to the crash. Think negligent hiring, failure to properly train or supervise, failure to maintain vehicle safety, etc.
Examples of potential company negligence may include:
- Hiring drivers with poor driving records
- Failing to properly train drivers
- Pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic delivery schedules
- Ignoring required vehicle inspections or maintenance
- Allowing drivers to violate hours-of-service rules
As the U.S. Department of Transportation explains, federal safety regulations require trucking companies to monitor driver qualifications and maintain safe vehicles. When companies fail to follow these rules, the risk of serious accidents can increase.
BOTTOM LINE FROM TWWLAWFIRM.COM
👉 In many truck accident cases in Florida, the investigation goes beyond the driver. A trucking company's hiring practices, training procedures, and safety policies can play a major role in determining liability. This is the reason you need an experienced legal team fighting for you.
(This legal/medical information is for general educational purposes only. While it applies in many situations, no attorney-client relationship is formed—which enables a lawyer to give specific legal advice—until you have spoken to the lawyer directly and retained him or her in writing.)