Trucking accidents cause severe injuries, and one of the top causes of these accidents is incidents with unqualified truck drivers.
The sheer size of a truck versus the size of a passenger vehicle sets the stage for catastrophe when the two collide, and passengers in a car typically suffer several significant injuries. If you believe you sustained injuries due to a truck accident involving an unqualified truck driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Recovering compensation for losses caused by a trucking accident requires finding causation and holding the responsible party accountable. Stay tuned to learn more and see if your case might qualify for review.
What Causes a Driver to be Unqualified?
The phrase “unqualified truck driver” bears particular legal significance. It goes beyond an everyday understanding of the definition of unqualified and includes a truck driver who has:
- Had their license revoked, or
- Does not have the requisite commercial driver’s license (a CDL)
To obtain a CDL, a driver needs to undergo specialized training. Driving a truck requires a different skill and knowledge set than operating a passenger vehicle. Truck drivers take courses on topics including mandatory driving hour requirements, how to safely enter and exit a roadway, how to check the weight load of the cargo, how to use the larger mirrors trucks are outfitted with, and the need to perform a vehicle check before embarking on a delivery trip.
When a driver has not taken these classes, they do not possess the requisite skills to operate a large truck safely and will not qualify for a CDL. In this regard, a driver who lacks these qualifications is considered unqualified and should never get behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. It is crucial to inspect all drivers’ training and educational records involved in a trucking accident to determine whether they are qualified or unqualified.
How to Proceed Against an Unqualified Driver
If you have been in an accident with an unqualified truck driver, an attorney will likely recommend holding the trucking company responsible. Attributing an accident to the trucking company requires an in-depth analysis to identify the pieces of evidence necessary to show guilt.
Only a thorough investigation can unearth the documents and data necessary to prove a trucking company engaged in negligent hiring of a driver or implemented prohibited practices. Company records can reveal a history of hiring patterns and can be beneficial in showing the trucking company bears responsibility for the accident.
Schedule a Consultation with Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks
Our team of legal professionals knows about recovering financial compensation for victims who were injured in a trucking accident involving unqualified truck drivers. If you have been in a truck accident, it is critical to explore all avenues related to liability. We will help determine the cause of the accident and assign fault to gain what you previously lost. We have offices in Provo and South Jordan, so reach out to the law offices of Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks for a free case evaluation today.