When a truck is involved in a collision, there are many possibilities regarding the attribution of liability. The most obvious scenario is that one or several of the parties at the scene is responsible for the collision; either the truck driver, another driver or a combination of the two. However, it is also possible that the trucking company, rather than anyone physically at the scene, was liable for the collision.
This post will discuss the situations in which it may be possible to hold the trucking company liable for a truck crash. If you have been involved in a truck crash in Pennsylvania, it is important that you understand the way that the law works before taking further action.
Poor vehicle maintenance in winter
The winter months can pose significant challenges for truck safety. Research has shown that delays due to severe weather, often occurring in winter, account for 23 percent of all trucking delays, and cost the industry up to $3.5 billion per year.
Unfortunately, some trucking companies do not adequately maintain their trucks to cope with the winter weather, and they may put their drivers under pressure to drive through hazardous conditions. In situations where this managerial negligence leads to a collision, the trucking company is likely to be held responsible.
Negligent hiring practices
Trucking companies have the legal responsibility to only hire truck drivers who have passed the required tests and have a good driving record. Truck drivers also need to be adequately trained. If a truck driver caused a collision and it is found that they should never have been driving the truck, their employer could be held liable for negligent hiring practices.
Violating working standards
A truck driver should have had the opportunity to rest adequately before embarking on a long journey. Many truck drivers are given tight delivery deadlines and are under intense pressure from their employer to get the job done quickly. This may mean that they drive while fatigued, and this has been known to lead to many collisions.
If you want to hold a trucking company liable for the causation of a collision, it is important that you pinpoint the exact reason for their negligence.
