Commercial trucks are capable of doing far more damage to passenger vehicles than the truck driver can afford to compensate, which can be a difficult obstacle to overcome in truck accident cases. When holding a truck driver accountable for their actions, any compensation awarded will typically come out of the truck driver’s personal savings or insurance. Because it’s very likely that the truck driver does not have the financial means to fully compensate you, the plaintiff, your personal injury will look for other responsible parties. In order to successfully name other parties as defendants, there must be a theory of liability. In this blog, our Laredo truck accident attorney explains different theories of liability that can be used.
Employer Liability
The idea of holding employers responsible for the wrongdoing of their employees is often referred to as “Respondeat Superior.” If the truck driver who cause the collision is an employee of a trucking line or carrier, the trucking company may be held liable. In an effort to avoid liability, however, trucking companies will take whatever action necessary to distance themselves from truck drivers who would normally be their employees.
Negligent Hiring and Entrustment
Businesses and corporations have a duty to avoid hiring individuals who may cause harm to others. Under this duty, if a truck carrier was aware that they were hiring a dangerous or reckless driver, they can be held liable should an accident take place under their watch. There are a number of screening processes that take place in the hiring stages, and if carriers hire drivers who should never have been hired in the first place, they hold partial responsibility.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, our legal team will be diligent in pursuing every viable legal option to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable. Call (956) 434-4000 to schedule a free consultation with our trusted Laredo truck accident attorney today.
