If you are injured in a truck accident caused by a negligent truck driver, you want to find a way to hold the trucking company liable for compensating you because it will have more liability insurance coverage to pay you than the truck driver. One claim that you could have against the company is a negligent hiring claim if the truck driver was not qualified to drive a truck or the trucking company did not follow the correct procedures under Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration (FMCSA) regulations for hiring him. In order to determine whether you have this type of claim and prove it, you will need to obtain documents from the trucking company.
Evidence You Will Need to Obtain From the Trucking Company to Prove Your Negligent Hiring Claim
In order to be hired, truck drivers must meet certain basic requirements, such as being at least 21 years old and holding a valid commercial driver’s license. In addition, a trucking company is supposed to conduct a detailed background check before hiring a trucker under FMCSA requirements. Here are some of the questions you will need answers to—and the documents you will need to get the answers—to prove your claim:
What were the trucking company’s hiring practices and policies?
You will need a copy of the trucking company’s written policies on hiring and the trucker’s actual employment file. These documents can be used to prove that the trucker was not qualified or federal rules were not followed.
What background check did the company run?
The trucking company was required to conduct a criminal background check and obtain a copy of the trucker’s complete driving and crash record. By examining the truck driver’s hiring file, you should be able to determine if this was done.
Did the trucking company contact the trucker’s employers?
The trucking company should have contacted all of the driver’s employers for the last three years to determine his driving and crash record and whether he had a drug or alcohol problem. You may need to obtain the records of these prior employers as well as review the trucker’s file and the company’s policies to determine if this step was taken. Unfortunately, the trucking company’s records may not be accurate.
What training did the trucker receive?
In order to answer this question, you would want to review the company’s policies, written training manuals, the trucker’s files, and any records of the employee or third parties involved in his training.
Did the trucker take a pre-employment drug test?
You will need to obtain the trucker’s drug test results—or discover the lack of them—to see if this rule was complied with.
Did the trucker obtain his medical certification?
A review of both the trucker’s employment file and his medical records will be necessary to determine if he received the proper medical certification saying he was medically fit to drive a truck.
We help injured victims throughout Texas including Arlington, North Richland, Grapevine, Bedford, Hurst, Euless, Irving and all points in between.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Truck Accident?
If you've been injured in a truck accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident injury attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
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