Were you injured in a truck accident in Austin, TX, and wondering whether the trucking company may also be at fault? McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers helps victims investigate commercial vehicle crashes, and our team can determine whether negligent hiring played a role in your case. Contact us today at (512) 474-0222 for a free consultation with an Austin truck accident lawyer.
Negligent hiring can happen when a trucking company fails to properly screen, train, or evaluate a driver before putting them on the road. In some cases, this means hiring someone with a poor driving record, a history of safety violations, or other warning signs that should have raised concerns. Our attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $500 million for clients, and we can help you pursue accountability after a serious crash.
Truck accident cases involving negligent hiring are often worth substantial sums, but they are also fiercely contested. You may need to hire a top-rated personal injury law firm to help you level the playing field and ensure you’re set up for a successful outcome.
At McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve spent decades handling high-stakes cases in this area of the law. Our truck accident attorneys in Austin, TX, know how to dig into a company’s hiring records and are confident we can help you make the most of your claim.
If you hire our Austin truck accident attorneys, we’ll be able to:
Reach out today to set up your free initial consultation. We can answer any questions you may have about your case at that time.
Negligent hiring is a legal concept that holds employers responsible when they fail to take reasonable steps to vet their employees before hiring them. In the trucking industry, this means that a company has a duty to thoroughly screen its drivers before allowing them to operate a commercial vehicle.
Federal regulations set clear standards for what trucking companies must do during the hiring process. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires carriers to review a prospective driver’s qualifications before they’re allowed on the road. When rules like these aren’t followed, it exposes the trucking company to liability in a personal injury claim after an accident takes place.
There are a number of ways a trucking company might fail in its hiring responsibilities.
Some of the most common examples include:
Trucking is a high-demand industry, and some companies are more focused on filling seats than making sure their drivers are safe. Victims have every right to take legal action against them when accidents occur as a result.
Victims of truck accidents caused by negligent hiring practices can pursue both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include:
Non-economic damages can cover:
Texas law also allows punitive damages in cases involving extreme misconduct from the at-fault party. If a trucking company knowingly hired a dangerous driver and showed a willful disregard for public safety, it’s possible that the court at trial may award additional damages to punish that conduct and discourage similar behavior in the future.
Truck accidents caused by negligent hiring practices can result in catastrophic injuries and life-changing losses. If you suspect that a trucking company’s reckless hiring decisions played a role in your accident in Austin, TX, McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim. We have a longstanding track record of success you can trust, with over $500 million already secured on behalf of our clients.
Contact our Austin truck accident attorneys today to schedule a free consultation. We work on contingency, so you won’t owe any attorney’s fees unless we win compensation for your case.