Can I Sue a Trucking Company After a Semi-Truck Accident?

If you get hurt in a truck accident in Alabama, multiple parties may bear financial responsibility for your injuries and other losses. For example, you might file a claim against the truck driver who caused the crash due to their negligent or reckless operation of the truck.

However, you may also want to bring a legal claim against the trucking company that owns and operates the truck or that employed the at-fault trucker. Although you may have various reasons for wanting to sue the trucking company and different legal theories of liability you might assert against the company, understanding the process of filing an accident claim against a trucking company can prepare you for what to expect when seeking financial recovery.

An experienced truck accident lawyer can explain how to sue a trucking company for not paying you for injuries and property damage you sustained in a crash caused by the truck driver’s or the company’s negligence. Contact Stokes Stemle today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.

Why Trucking Companies Can Be Held Liable

You may be wondering, “Can I sue a trucking company?” The answer is yes. Trucking companies may bear liability for a truck accident under various circumstances. Some of the common reasons for holding a trucking company liable for your injuries from a truck crash include the following:

• Vicarious Liability – When a trucking company employs a truck driver who causes a crash due to negligent or reckless driving, the company may also bear liability for the accident as the at-fault driver’s employer under the doctrine of vicarious liability.
• Negligent Hiring/Retention – A trucking company may bear liability for a truck accident caused by a trucker’s negligence when the company negligently hired or retained the driver, including knowingly disregarding information indicating that a truck driver poses a significant safety risk, such as a driving history that includes multiple infractions or accidents.
• Negligent Truck Maintenance – A truck company may cause a trucking accident when its truck crashes after suffering a mechanical issue or failure caused by the company’s inadequate maintenance or repairs.
• Direct Negligence – A trucking company may also be held responsible for an accident when it directs the truck driver to engage in activities that increase the risk of the driver causing an accident, such as speeding or disregarding hours-of-service limits.

Common Reasons to Sue a Trucking Company

Some of the reasons why you might sue a trucking company in addition to or instead of a truck driver include the following:

• The trucking company employed the at-fault truck driver
• The trucking company has more substantial financial resources than an at-fault trucker
• The trucking company holds the insurance policy covering the at-fault driver
• The trucking company bears direct liability for the accident, such as by retaining a risky truck driver, negligently maintaining the 18-wheeler involved in the accident, or instructing the driver to engage in unsafe behavior

Evidence Needed to Build a Case Against a Trucking Company

Proving a trucking company’s liability for your injuries and losses from a truck accident may require obtaining the trucking company’s records and other evidence, depending on your theory of liability against the company. Examples of evidence you may need to build a truck accident case against a motor carrier include the following:

• Truck inspection and maintenance records
• Radio dispatch logs
• Cargo manifests for commercial trucks
• The negligent truck driver’s employment and driving records
• State and federal records for the trucking company, including records of regulatory violations
• Truck event data recorder (“black box”) logs
• The truck driver’s hours of service logs
• GPS records
• Accident scene photos
• Dashcam video
• Surveillance or traffic camera footage
• Eyewitness statements
• Police accident reports
• Accident reconstruction reports or testimony

Steps to Take if You Want to Sue a Trucking Company in Alabama

When you have a legal claim against a trucking company in Alabama after a crash, steps you can take to put yourself in the best position to pursue your case include the following:

• Report the accident to law enforcement and request a copy of the police crash report when it becomes available in the days following the collision.
• Seek immediate medical attention to document the injuries you sustained in the crash and begin medical treatment or rehabilitation.
• Obtain copies of your medical records, including your injury treatment and rehabilitation.
• Notify your auto insurance company of the crash and review your policy to check for available coverage.
• Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations; do not delay or skip your treatment or rehabilitation.
• Keep copies of all bills, invoices, and receipts related to medical expenses or vehicle repair costs.
• Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements if you lost wages while recovering from your injuries or if prolonged or permanent disabilities prevent you from returning to work.

Finally, talk to an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options for obtaining compensation through a fair settlement or verdict.

How an Alabama Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

Pursuing an accident claim against a large trucking company can seem daunting and stressful for truck accident victims, as the company’s representatives, insurers, and lawyers may make it challenging for you to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. However, you can hire a truck accident attorney to advocate for you and handle all the details of your case.

An Alabama truck accident lawyer can help you obtain the financial relief you need and deserve after a devastating crash by doing the following:

• Investigating the crash to recover all available evidence
• Reviewing the facts and circumstances of the accident to identify liable parties and your legal options for financial recovery
• Obtaining records of your injuries and losses to determine how much compensation you might recover in a truck accident claim
• Building a compelling case to hold the trucking company liable for your injuries and losses, including working with accident reconstruction or trucking industry experts as necessary
• Filing your claims against the trucking company and handling negotiations for you to take the stress of the claims process off your shoulders
• Pursuing your injury claims in court if litigation becomes necessary to hold the trucking company accountable

Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm to Learn More

If you’ve suffered injuries and property damage in a truck accident, you may have grounds to file a truck accident lawsuit against both the truck driver and the trucking company that owns and operates the truck involved in the crash. Contact Stokes Stemle today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a truck accident attorney to learn more about your right to sue a trucking company after a crash.