Operating a big rig, 18-wheeler, or semi is difficult. They are much harder to stop than passenger cars or motorcycles, and it can be difficult to maneuver them in the street, especially making turns. Typically, these trucks have large blind spots. In order to operate their vehicles safely, commercial drivers must undergo substantial training. If you have been injured in the West Palm Beach area by a careless driver, the West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers at Anidjar & Levine can help you assert your right to compensation.
Bringing a Negligence Claim for a Truck Accident Caused by a Lack of Training
In order to get licensed, a truck driver must receive adequate training and pass certain licensing tests. However, a trucking company that employs drivers to conduct its business must also ensure that a driver is well-equipped to handle unpredictable situations on the road and has completed whatever training is necessary to operate trucks.
A trucking company must perform a comprehensive background check on the drivers it hires, determining whether the driver passed the appropriate licensing exam and completed training. If the trucking company hires a first-time driver with no prior truck driving experience, it should also ensure that the driver is comfortable handling such a large vehicle.
The major difference between driving a truck and a passenger car is the truck’s size. This means that a truck driver needs to hit the brakes sooner and be aware that it will take more effort and time to stop a truck than it would take to stop a smaller vehicle. The driver must also be familiar with the rules related to loading and securing a load on a truck. A failure to distribute the weight appropriately or use the right securing mechanism can result in difficulty braking, instability, and falling debris, all of which endanger others on the road. Due to the truck’s size, a driver will need to be comfortable checking blind spots while making wide turns. Call the West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free consultation.
We Can Hold the Trucking Company Liable for Negligent Training
If a truck driver is not adequately trained or has a bad record of driving commercial trucks, a trucking company should not hire him or her. A truck driver with a bad record who causes an accident exposes his or her employer to liability in personal injury claims. If you are injured in a truck accident, your attorney may look into the trucking company’s hiring practices, among other things.
The trucking company could be liable for negligent training. This means that the trucking company owed a duty to train the driver, it breached that duty, the breach caused an accident, and actual damages resulted. Generally, a truck company’s insurers and attorneys will fight to keep any damaging evidence out of the case, and they may also try to pin some or all of the blame for the accident on you. However, Florida’s pure comparative fault rule means that you may be able to recover a reduced amount of compensation, even if you were partly responsible for a crash.
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Our Big Rig Collision Attorneys Assist West Palm Beach Truck Accident Victims
The population of West Palm Beach has increased approximately 4.1% since 2010. Its historic neighborhoods include Mango Promenade, Flamingo Park, El Cid, Central Park, and Bel Air Historic District. If you have been involved in a truck crash in West Palm Beach or one of the nearby cities, the experienced injury attorneys at Anidjar & Levine may be able to help. Call our attorneys at 800-747-3733 or contact us via our online form for a free consultation.
