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Holding Negligent Parties Accountable in Crestview Truck Accidents
Truck accident claims are far more complex than typical car accident cases. They often involve multiple liable parties and a web of federal and state regulations (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — FMCSA). Our attorneys have the experience to investigate every angle, including:
Driver Fatigue: Violations of "Hours of Service" Logs
Federal law strictly limits the number of hours a commercial driver can be on the road without rest. These "Hours of Service" (HOS) regulations are designed to prevent fatigue. However, trucking companies often pressure drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines, leading them to falsify their logbooks or drive while exhausted. A fatigued driver has slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and can even fall asleep at the wheel, turning an 80,000-pound truck into an unguided missile.
Improper Loading: Unbalanced or Unsecured Cargo
A truck's cargo must be loaded, balanced, and secured in accordance with specific federal and state regulations. When cargo is unbalanced, it can dramatically raise the truck's center of gravity, making it far more susceptible to rolling over, especially on curves or in high winds. If cargo is not properly secured, it can shift during a sudden stop or maneuver, causing the driver to lose control. In some cases, unsecured cargo can spill onto the highway, posing a devastating hazard to other vehicles.
Poor Maintenance: Failure to Inspect Brakes, Tires, or Other Critical Components
A commercial truck is a complex piece of heavy machinery that requires constant, documented maintenance to remain safe. We often find that trucking companies cut corners on safety to save money. This can lead to catastrophic failures of critical systems, such as worn-out brakes that can not stop the truck in time, over-worn tires that blow out at highway speeds, or steering and suspension failures that cause a complete loss of control. This is not just an "accident" — it is negligence.
Negligent Hiring: Trucking Companies Hiring Drivers with Poor Records
Trucking companies have a legal duty to vet their drivers thoroughly before putting them behind the wheel. This means conducting comprehensive background checks. We investigate to see if the company knowingly hired a driver with a history of DUIs, drug offenses, reckless driving citations, or a long record of previous accidents. When a company hires an unsafe driver who causes harm, the company can be held directly liable for its negligence.
Manufacturing Defects: Faulty Parts on the Truck Itself
Sometimes, the accident is not the fault of the driver or the trucking company, but the manufacturer of the truck or one of its parts. A flaw in the design or manufacturing of a critical component, such as a defective steering system, a faulty brake assembly, or tires prone to delamination, can cause catastrophic failure. In these cases, we have the resources to pursue a product liability claim against the multinational corporation that built the defective part.
We meticulously build cases to identify all at-fault parties, including the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, or a maintenance provider, to maximize your recovery.
