If you or someone you love is hurt in a truck accident, you should be able to pursue a claim for compensation from those responsible for harming you. In many cases, this includes not just the truck driver, but the company employing the driver. That’s because vicarious liability rules make companies legally responsible for the on-the-job actions of their workers, who are acting as the company’s agents.
Unfortunately, trucking companies often don’t want to take responsibility when the drivers they hire do something wrong. That’s why you need an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer who knows the law, can prove when the company shares the blame, and can stand up to big trucking companies to get justice for crash victims.
Drafahl Law Firm has significant experience representing clients in accident claims with commercial motor vehicles. We understand how insurance and trucking companies approach these claims and how they try to avoid legal and financial responsibility. We’ll work hard to ensure companies can’t evade responsibility and to ensure that you get the maximum compensation you deserve by holding them liable for your losses.
Call our St. Louis truck accident lawyers today to learn more.
How Do Trucking Companies Avoid Responsibility for a Crash?
As soon as a collision happens, trucking companies often have their lawyers and investigators working to try to avoid being held liable for the losses that crash victims endure. Here are some of the key ways these companies try to shirk their responsibility for paying for damages:
- Hiring independent contractors instead of employees: While vicarious liability rules say employers are responsible for the acts of their employees, this is not the case if a driver is an independent contractor. However, our firm will look at the level of control the company had over the driver, and the hours the driver drove, to prove that the driver really was an employee, regardless of how the company classified him
- Claiming they didn’t know of the driver’s careless actions. Trucking companies may try to say the driver acted on his own when violating safety regulations and that they had no way of knowing, even if they pushed drivers to take risks like operating while fatigued
- Hiding evidence. Companies may try to alter maintenance records, “lose” dash cam footage or alter the black box data (data from electronic recorders). Their goal is to stop you from getting evidence that could help you prove your case.
- Hiding behind shell companies: Some companies create multiple business entities, with each one usually owning few assets, so they are “judgment proof” if their drivers cause a crash because those drivers are controlled by a different entity.
- Blaming external factors: Trucking companies may try to shift blame onto other parties, such as those responsible for truck maintenance or for road design. If they can make others the responsible party, they can avoid fully compensating you
- Rushing you to settle. Many companies try to push you to settle for a small amount of money before you know the full extent of the damage you endured. Once you accept a settlement, they no longer have to pay you additional compensation if it turns out your injuries were more serious than anticipated or your treatment was more costly
Trucking companies should not get away with shirking their responsibility, and with the right firm, you can make sure this doesn’t happen in your case.
Contact a St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Drafahl Law Firm is passionate about fighting big trucking companies and making sure they don’t use their power to trample the rights of truck crash victims. We will fight for you in settlement negotiations or bring our litigation experience to your case to get you the money you deserve. Call us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.