How Trucking Company Negligence Can Lead to Serious Accidents
Indiana attorneys committed to standing up to trucking companies and their insurance providers
When a tractor-trailer collides with a car, the damage is often catastrophic. These vehicles weigh up to 80,000 pounds and can cause devastating injuries or fatalities in seconds when there’s a crash. While driver error plays a role in many truck accidents, negligence at the company level is often a root cause.
Some trucking companies cut corners on hiring, training, maintenance, and scheduling to keep costs down and deliveries moving. Those decisions put not only their drivers at risk but also every motorist sharing the road.
What does negligence mean for trucking companies?
Negligence occurs when a company fails to act with reasonable care, which then creates unsafe conditions. For trucking companies, that duty of care extends to nearly every part of their operation, from who they hire to how often they service their trucks.
Negligence isn’t limited to what happens behind the wheel. A driver may make a mistake, but often it’s the company’s policies, culture, or lack of oversight that set the stage for a truck accident. That’s why both the driver and the trucking company can be held accountable when their actions or failures to act cause someone’s injury or death.
How do poor hiring practices contribute to crashes?
Federal law requires trucking companies to verify that drivers have valid commercial licenses, clean driving records, and medical certification proving they are fit to operate large vehicles. Yet some companies fall short.
Industry shortages have made qualified drivers harder to find, and the temptation to overlook red flags is strong. Hiring someone with a history of multiple moving violations, reckless driving, substance abuse, or prior crashes can dramatically increase the odds of an accident.
When companies ignore those warnings during the hiring process, the risks extend beyond their own fleet to everyone on the highway.
Why does inadequate training put the public at risk?
Driving an 18-wheeler requires far more than basic road skills. Truckers must know how to handle steep grades, tight turns, unpredictable weather, and heavy loads. They also need to understand how to prevent fatigue and respond in emergencies.
Despite this, some carriers provide only minimal training, assuming that a commercial driver’s license is enough preparation. Without additional instruction, drivers may misjudge braking distances, struggle with blind spots, or fail to react appropriately when cargo shifts.
The consequences can be severe. A poorly trained driver may not know how to recover from a skid or avoid a rollover. These mistakes can cause multi-vehicle pileups.
How do unrealistic schedules create unsafe conditions?
The trucking industry operates on deadlines, and companies often pressure drivers to deliver faster than is safe. Federal Hours of Service rules limit how many hours drivers can be on the road to prevent fatigue. But in practice, violations are common.
Some companies encourage drivers to falsify logbooks or use electronic logging devices improperly to extend their shifts. Fatigue impairs reaction times, reduces attention, and increases the likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel. Some studies show that being awake for more than 18 hours has the same effect on the body as being legally intoxicated.
Beyond fatigue, tight schedules push drivers to speed, tailgate, and skip rest breaks. These shortcuts save time but raise the risk of deadly crashes.
What happens when companies fail to maintain trucks?
Large trucks require regular inspections and maintenance to remain safe. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules mandate that companies keep detailed records of brake checks, tire replacements, and other repairs.
Yet violations remain common because some companies skip scheduled maintenance or falsify records to keep trucks on the road. Defects such as worn brakes, bald tires, or malfunctioning lights are among the leading contributors to truck accidents.
The risks can be immediate. A brake failure on a downhill grade or a tire blowout at highway speeds can cause a driver to lose control. This leaves little chance for nearby motorists to avoid a collision.
How does ignoring safety policies endanger drivers and others?
Federal law requires trucking companies to test drivers for drugs and alcohol, investigate safety complaints, and monitor driver performance. But enforcement often depends on company culture.
In some cases, managers overlook red flags to avoid losing workers. A driver who racks up citations or fails a screening may be allowed to continue driving, even when it puts others at risk. When companies fail to discipline unsafe behavior, they create an environment where violations are tolerated until tragedy strikes.
What role does cargo loading play in accidents?
Improper cargo loading can destabilize even the most experienced driver. Trucks that are overloaded or loaded unevenly are prone to rollovers and jackknife crashes. If cargo isn’t properly secured, it can shift during transit or spill onto the road, creating hazards for following vehicles.
FMCSA cargo securement rules outline how materials must be tied down, but enforcement can be inconsistent. Companies under pressure to move goods quickly may cut corners, trusting drivers to manage unsafe loads. Truck accidents involving unsecured steel coils, timber, or construction materials illustrate how a single oversight can trigger chain-reaction crashes involving multiple vehicles.
What evidence proves company negligence after a truck accident?
When a crash occurs, proving negligence requires a detailed investigation. Evidence often includes:
- Data from electronic logging devices (ELDs)
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Data from event data recorders (EDRs or “black boxes”)
- Company emails or dispatch instructions that encouraged unsafe driving
To get adequate evidence, an attorney might work with a crash reconstruction expert to analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, and cargo securement. In some cases, surveillance footage or GPS tracking data can show whether a driver was speeding or fatigued.
That’s why quick legal action is important in these cases. Records can be lost, altered, or destroyed if not obtained immediately after a crash.
How can victims hold negligent trucking companies accountable?
Victims of trucking accidents can pursue civil lawsuits against both the driver and the company. These cases often involve a lot of evidence and federal regulations.
Compensation may cover medical expenses, lost wages, long-term care, and pain and suffering. But since trucking companies carry large insurance policies, their insurance providers often fight aggressively to protect their bottom line.
Get a fighter on your side after a truck accident in Indiana
If you’ve been injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Medical bills pile up, work is put on hold, and the trucking company already has lawyers and insurance companies working against you. The Indiana truck accident attorneys at Boughter Sinak can step in to even the odds. We can investigate the cause of your truck crash whether it was a reckless driver, unsafe company policies, or a poorly maintained truck.
Our track record of multimillion-dollar results shows we know how to stand up to the biggest companies when your future is on the line. When you sit down with us for a free consultation, there’s no legal jargon or pressure. It’s a conversation. You’ll have the chance to tell us what happened in your own words, and we’ll explain your options clearly so you know what to expect. We’ll answer your questions honestly and help you understand the best path forward.
You don’t have to go through this fight alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and put a fighter on your side. With offices in Fort Wayne and Warsaw, we represent people all across Indiana. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.
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