Truck accidents can result from negligent hiring practices
Truck driving companies have a duty to engage in responsible hiring practices when it comes to staffing their businesses with drivers. Missouri and Illinois residents should never have to fear suffering injuries or worse due to a truck company’s negligent hiring practices. Unfortunately, however, there are companies which do hire unsafe or even negligent truck drivers who cause serious truck accidents. In the worst cases, these unsafe truck drivers cause fatal collisions which claim the lives of innocent victims.
One such case reportedly took place in November of 2013, when a catastrophic truck accident in another state killed a mother of four who also left behind five grandchildren at the time of her death. The woman’s estate recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several parties related to the case, alleging negligence and negligent hiring and seeking millions of dollars in both compensatory and punitive damages.
According to the lawsuit, the truck driver accused of causing the crash was not only unlicensed at the time, but also had a history of drug use and serious criminal charges. Further, the truck driver reportedly engaged in a five-day drug binge involving methamphetamine before transporting a load of refrigerated chickens on the day of the truck accident. The woman’s estate claims that the trucker was unable to maintain control of his tractor-trailer and careened into the Sunday school teacher’s car.
Reports state that the truck driver did not sleep during his alleged drug binge, and that he had two passengers in his commercial vehicle who were supposed to somehow help keep him awake while he was transporting the load of chickens. Tragically, however, this did not prove to be the case. After the trucker lost control of his vehicle, he jackknifed and slammed into the victim’s much smaller car. The woman was soon pronounced dead, leaving a grieving family and community behind.
Police investigators allege that they discovered evidence that consumption of methamphetamine alcohol had occurred in the tractor-trailer. Additionally, the accused truck driver apparently lacked a valid operator’s license during the relevant time period. What seems even worse is the fact that this particular driver reportedly has a past that involves being arrested for hijacking a fuel tank belonging to the government, drug allegations and second-degree lynching.
The woman’s estate is suing the truck driver, the company which employed him and the business which hired the truck company to transport the cargo of chickens. According to the lawsuit, the trucking company failed to engage in safe hiring practices and, in fact, had several truck drivers which had failed drug screens and were arrested on various drug allegations. Additionally, some of the drivers also lacked the appropriate paperwork or licenses to legally drive commercial vehicles.
Losing loved ones in truck accidents can seem tragic enough for any Missouri or Illinois resident. To have that death result from apparent negligent hiring practices on the part of a trucking company can make it even more devastating. No one deserves to lose a loved one to the carelessness or negligence of another party. Fortunately, personal injury and wrongful death laws allow victims and surviving relatives the chance to seek financial restitution in a civil court of law. My St. Louis personal injury law firm is experienced in trying these types of cases, and we offer free initial consultations to those who are interested in learning more about their legal rights in such situations. Please call us, free of charge, at 1-888-586-7041 to discuss your case and how we may be able to help you preserve your rights. By acting as quickly as possible, you can give your case a better chance of success when it comes to holding truck drivers and truck driving companies responsible for negligence.
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Source Article: http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/08/04/70059.htm