Were you injured in a truck accident in Columbus, OH, involving a commercial driver who never should have been behind the wheel? When trucking companies fail to properly screen drivers, they should be held accountable. The Columbus truck accident lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you seek compensation.
We have over 71 years of combined experience handling complex truck accident claims and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients across West Virginia and Ohio.
Contact us today at (614) 587-8423 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers After a Truck Accident in Columbus, OH?
Negligent hiring is a serious issue in the trucking industry. If you believe you were harmed by an inexperienced or reckless driver, you deserve a legal team with the experience and resources to uncover the truth about what happened.
Injured clients turn to Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers because:
- Our Columbus personal injury lawyers have earned recognition from respected legal organizations, including Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell.
- We have over 75 five-star reviews on Google.
- We have a thorough understanding of state and federal trucking regulations.
Reach out to our law office in Columbus, Ohio, to arrange a free consultation. Our Columbus truck accident attorneys can answer your legal questions and explain your next steps.
Federal Safety Rules for Hiring Commercial Truck Drivers
The trucking industry is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These federal rules require trucking companies to carefully evaluate a driver’s background before allowing them to operate commercial vehicles.
Under federal regulations, trucking companies must review:
- The driver’s motor vehicle record from every state where they held a license
- The driver’s employment history for the previous three years
- Any drug or alcohol testing violations
- Prior safety performance records
- Verification that the driver holds a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)
Companies are also required to perform pre-employment drug testing and confirm that drivers meet medical and qualification standards before allowing them to operate commercial trucks.
What Is Negligent Hiring in a Truck Accident Case?
Negligent hiring occurs when a company fails to take reasonable steps to ensure that the person they hire is qualified and safe to perform the job.
Examples of negligent hiring in trucking cases may include:
- Hiring drivers with serious traffic violations or DUI convictions
- Failing to review a driver’s motor vehicle record
- Ignoring a driver’s history of prior crashes
- Hiring drivers with suspended or invalid commercial driver’s licenses
- Failing to conduct required background checks or safety screenings
- Hiring drivers with substance abuse problems
- Allowing inexperienced or unqualified drivers to operate commercial vehicles
When a company hires a driver with a dangerous record, and that driver causes a crash, the company’s failure to properly screen the driver may form the basis of a negligent hiring claim.
What Damages Are Available for Truck Accident Victims in Ohio?
Truck accidents frequently cause severe injuries due to the size and weight of these massive vehicles. Victims often require extensive medical treatment and face long recovery periods, not to mention extensive pain and suffering.
To address these issues, Ohio law allows injured victims to pursue compensation for their economic and non-economic damages after a truck crash.
These damages should provide money for all your financial and personal losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In serious cases involving reckless corporate conduct and unsafe hiring practices, courts may also award punitive damages to penalize companies that knowingly put unsafe drivers on the road.
An experienced truck accident lawyer in Columbus can help evaluate the full value of your claim and document all your damages, including those you may incur in the future.
Contact a Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer Today for Legal Help
If you were injured in a truck accident caused by a trucking company’s negligent hiring practices, you should not have to face the consequences alone. Companies that place dangerous drivers behind the wheel must be held accountable when their decisions lead to crashes.
Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you pursue justice and a fair financial recovery. Our legal team has the experience, resources, and determination to take on any large trucking company or insurer and work to make sure unsafe hiring practices don’t go unpunished.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Columbus truck accident attorney and learn how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.