How Trucking Companies Avoid Responsibility for a Crash

Truck accidents can be catastrophic, resulting in serious injuries, impairments, extensive property damage, and prolonged pain and suffering. Trucking companies try to avoid having to pay for these damages, even when they are responsible for them. The Doan Law Firm’s Houston truck accident attorneys are familiar with the various tactics that trucking companies may use to try to get out of paying what they owe truck accident victims, including:

Hiring Independent Contractors

Trucking companies sometimes hire independent contractors to deliver their goods rather than directly hiring employees. Historically, this tactic helps insulate companies from liability because they are generally not responsible for the actions of third parties they do not have control over, such as independent contractors.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations have tried to prevent trucking companies from evading liability in a trucking accident by using this excuse. They removed the distinction between employees and independent contractors. So, if a trucking company tries to use this excuse, reach out to an experienced lawyer who knows how to refute these claims.

Blaming Others

One of the factors that can make truck accident cases more complicated than other types of motor vehicle accidents is that multiple parties may be involved. Trucking companies may try to shift blame to others, such as:

• The driver
• Other motorists
• The victim
• The owner of the truck
• Mechanics
• Cargo loading companies
• Truck or part manufacturers

Because of this possibility, it is important to work with an experienced car accident attorney who can investigate your case, determine all parties who may share liability for your accident, and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.

Conducting Their Own Investigation

Shortly after an accident, the trucking company may quickly deploy a team of investigators and others to conduct an investigation. However, these parties are hired by the trucking company, so this internal investigation may only point to others to blame for the accident. They are interested in protecting the trucking company, not in the truth or helping the victim.

Destroying Evidence

Federal regulations require trucking companies to maintain extensive documentation and evidence, including:

• Logbooks, in which truck drivers are supposed to log every 15 minutes of time they spend on or off-duty
• Event data recorders or black box data that keeps
• GPS units or data
• Vehicle maintenance records
• Inspection records
• Drug and. alcohol reports
• Personnel records

Facing the possibility of having to pay substantial amounts to accident victims, some trucking companies may go so far as to destroy evidence in case they get sued. They may falsify logbooks, take GPS units out of the truck, “lose” the truck’s black box, or make a driver disappear so they can’t be drug or alcohol tested. These tactics are used to help a trucking company avoid responsibility for killing or injuring an innocent motorist.

The less evidence that is available, the harder it will be to hold them responsible for the damages you sustained. However, a truck accident attorney knows the steps to take to prevent valuable evidence from being destroyed.

Contact The Doan Law Firm for a Free Case Consultation

If you were injured in a truck accident, don’t let the trucking company avoid responsibility for a crash. There are immediate steps you can take to protect your rights, starting with contacting an experienced truck accident lawyer for a free consultation. Call The Doan Law Firm today to learn how we can help.