A common form of trucking company negligence occurs when companies fail to conduct thorough background checks on truck drivers during the hiring process.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is primarily responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations for commercial truck drivers and the trucking companies that employ them. From establishing the maximum numbers that drivers can work to specifying the regularity with which commercial trucks must be inspected, the FMCSA is dedicated to:
- Minimizing the number of truck accidents that occur each year on U.S. roadways
- Enforcing federal trucking regulations
- Holding commercial truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for their actions when their negligence plays a role in causing truck accident injuries and deaths.
Because many drivers of passenger vehicles are likely not aware of federal trucking regulations or the ways in which trucking companies commonly violate them, it’s important that these drivers consult with an experienced attorney if they are ever involved in a truck accident.
Specific Examples of Trucking Company Negligence
Some of the most common ways in which trucking companies may be negligent and, as a result, increase the risk of serious truck accidents on U.S. roadways include by:
- Failing to conduct background checks on truck drivers – Before a trucking company hires a driver, that company is legally obligated to conduct a thorough background check on the potential employee to ensure that (s)he has a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) and doesn’t have a history of reckless driving, drunk driving and/or other serious traffic offenses.In some cases, trucking companies may cut corners and intentionally fail to conduct such background checks because, for example, they don’t want to spend the money on them or take the time to wait for the results. When trucking companies don’t take this crucial step as part of their hiring process and, as a result, one of their unqualified drivers causes a truck accident, the company can be sued by truck accident victims for their injuries and losses.
Check out the upcoming Part 2 of this blog for some more specific examples of how trucking company negligence can cause truck accidents and be the basis of personal injury lawsuits for victims.
Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in or have lost a loved in a truck accident or in any type of traffic accident, you need an attorney who understands personal injury law and knows what steps to take on your behalf. At Binder Law Group, PLC Encino, our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys have been committed to aggressively defending victims’ rights and helping people like you in the Los Angeles, California area since 1973. Our thorough knowledge of the law and our fierce litigating skills allow us to consistently help accident victims secure the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and losses.
At Binder Law Group, PLC, we take pride in providing individual service and attention to each of our clients, and we are selective in the number of cases we take. This allows us to focus on the issue at hand, attack each case with vigor and provide the highest quality legal work possible. It also allows us to keep each of our clients informed about the status of their cases at all times so that they never feel that they are being left in the dark when it comes to their the important legal matters.
To arrange for your free initial consultation during which you will receive trusted advice from an experienced legal professional, please contact our office by calling us at 626-793-9124 or 800-310-1529 or by emailing us using the form on the right-hand side of this page.