Carrier Responsibility

The starting point for determining carrier responsibility, is that as the employer of a driver, the carrier is responsible under a doctrine of respondent/superior. The issues get considerably more complicated, when the driver was an "independent trucker." Then it may be necessary to find liability against the carrier on other legal theories.

The starting point for all such theories would be the requirements for carriers under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Generally, those Regulations create an obligation on the
carrier to see to it that the drivers are in compliance with all Safety rules applicable to them, in addition to creating independent obligations on the carriers to inspect, comply and to make sure the drivers are complying also.

A carrier has a duty to take steps to prevent injury to the driving public by determining the competency of its drivers to operate a commercial vehicle. A carrier is responsible to obtain background information on a potential driver before he can be hired. A carrier can be held negligent if they fail to obtain such information.

A carrier that fails to prepare or maintain records or maintains a required record that is incomplete, inaccurate or is false, is subject to the commencement of civil proceedings by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as well as fines.

Driving inattentively (reading, talking on the phone, fatigue-induced)
Merging improperly into traffic, causing a truck to maneuver or brake quickly
Failure to stop for a stop sign or light
Failure to slow down in a construction zone
Unsafe speed (approaching too fast from the rear/misjudging truck's speed)
Following too closely
Failure to slow down in response to environmental conditions (fog, rain, snow, smoke,
bright sunshine)
Changing lanes abruptly in front of a truck
Driving in the "no-zones" (left rear quarter, right front quarter, directly behind)
Unsafe turning
Unsafe passing
Pulling into traffic from roadside in front of truck without accelerating sufficiently
Driving between large trucks

The following suggestions may help motorists to improve the odds when sharing the road with large commercial vehicles:

Keep visible - stay out of the "no-zones" - when behind a truck stay far enough back to
see both side mirrors on the truck
Maintain a safe distance to ensure that there is adequate space and time to brake
Drive defensively
Use signals to turn or pass and avoid sudden moves such as swerving to pass
Keep lights on and windshield wipers working on rainy days

Steps to take if you are involved in a commercial vehicle accident

If you've been injured because of a collision with a commercial vehicle, you already know your accident was serious. In crashes involving semi trucks, generally the driver of the automobile is the one who is injured, and often the injuries are fatal.

Due to size disparities and basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle is likely to result in serious injuries and significant property damage.

DISCLAIMER: The information you obtain at our firm web site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. It is recommended that you should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.