After a truck crash, an injured person may wonder whether the driver alone is responsible. A trucking company may also be liable, but inexperience alone does not prove fault. The key questions are whether the driver caused harm while doing their job and whether the company’s decisions contributed to the crash.
When can a trucking company share responsibility?
An employer may be responsible for harm an employee causes within the scope of their work when the legal requirements for employer liability are met. A trucking company may also face a negligent hiring or supervision claim if it failed to use reasonable care and that failure contributed to the injuries.
Minnesota does not recognize negligent training as a standalone claim. In Johnson v. Peterson, 734 N.W.2d 275, 277 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007), the court rejected that theory. Training records may still be relevant evidence when evaluating a company’s safety practices, but they do not establish a separate negligent-training claim.
What evidence can help explain the crash?
Investigators may review driver files, training records, prior violations and company policies. Maintenance logs, electronic logging data, crash reports and witness statements may also help explain what happened.
These records may reveal warning signs the company knew about or should have discovered. No single record proves negligence, but the evidence may show how the driver’s conduct or company practices contributed to the crash.
What federal training rules apply?
The FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training rules apply to certain first-time commercial driver’s license applicants, drivers upgrading from Class B to Class A and people applying for hazardous materials, passenger or school bus endorsements for the first time. Covered applicants must complete the required training through a provider listed in the agency’s Training Provider Registry before taking the applicable test.
The federal rules set curriculum and skill standards but do not require a minimum number of behind-the-wheel training hours. Meeting federal training standards does not by itself determine liability.
What should you do after a truck crash?
If you were injured in a truck crash in Vadnais Heights or elsewhere in the north metro area, a truck accident attorney can help review the evidence and explain your legal options. Whether a trucking company may be liable depends on the facts of the crash and applicable law.