Collisions involving semi-trucks in Arizona have the potential to be catastrophic. A fully-loaded 80,000-pound semi-truck has the laws of physics on its side and is simply no match for a standard 2,000-pound automobile. When truck accidents occur, the drivers and passengers in the vehicle struck by the truck can suffer serious injuries. In the worst of cases, there could even be fatalities.
Those injured in semi-truck accidents can incur significant medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. Therefore, they may wish to pursue legal action against the responsible parties. It is important to understand that when it comes to crashes involving semi-trucks, there may be several parties that can be held liable for the wreck.
Of course, the driver of the semi-truck who caused the crash may be held responsible. However, under certain circumstances the trucking company can also be held responsible for the crash. This is due to the legal theory of “vicarious liability,” in which employers are held liable for the actions of their employees that take place over the regular course of their business duties. For example, if a truck driver drives while intoxicated, or if the truck company negligently hired a truck driver, it may be possible to name the truck company as a defendant. However, it is important to note that vicarious liability only applies to those with an employer-employee relationship. It may not apply to truck companies that hire truck drivers as independent contractors.
In the end, determining who can be held responsible for a truck accident can be complex. This post only provides an overview of this topic and should not form the basis of any legal filing. Those who are wondering if they can hold a truck company liable for a crash a truck driver caused will want to seek professional guidance, so they can understand how the law applies to the facts of their case.
