Log Truck Company Loses Nuclear Verdict After Failing To Perform Background Check On Driver

A log truck company recently lost a truck accident personal injury lawsuit to the tune of $141.5 million after the plaintiffs successfully argued that they placed a dangerous driver behind the wheel of one of their vehicles. After a 4-week trial, the Nassau County jury presiding over the case returned a verdict on behalf of the plaintiffs for a logging truck crash that happened in March 2020.

According to the lawsuit, three people were seriously injured in the crash, including a 5-year-old girl who suffered permanent brain damage. The driver of the log truck had a lengthy criminal and traffic violation history and, according to the plaintiffs, the company that hired him failed to do a background check on the driver.

The log truck driver had allegedly been driving since 4 a.m. and was going 67 mph in a 45 mph zone when the vehicle approached a congested area of traffic with construction workers, school buses, and slowed or stopped traffic. Parents were picking up their children from school when the accident occurred. The driver failed to stop his rig in time for the stopped traffic and plowed into a line of vehicles.

The victims and their families filed a lawsuit against the driver and the company he worked for. According to their lawsuit, the company that hired the driver broke dozens of rules under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Elements of negligence

It’s unclear if the driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident because the company refused to get a post-crash drug test. It’s further unclear whether or not he was fatigued from driving too long because he failed to keep log books of his hours of operation as required by federal law. He could have been driving over the maximum time period, but there’s no record to show how long he was driving. In addition, it’s unclear if the driver was looking at his cell phone at the time of the crash because those records were also destroyed.

According to the lawsuit, the logging company “blindly” hired the driver without performing any kind of background check. Had they performed a background check, they would have realized that the driver had an extensive criminal history including a DUI. The plaintiffs uncovered evidence that the driver’s criminal history included battery on an officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, running a red light and speeding in a commercial motor vehicle, a DUI crash, and more.

Ultimately, companies are responsible for vetting their drivers and making sure they are good candidates to operate large and dangerous vehicles. In this case, the company failed and it resulted in permanent injury.

Talk to a Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyer Today 

Gillette Law represents the interests of Jacksonville residents who have been injured in traffic accidents with commercial vehicles. Call our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin investigating your case right away.

Source:

news4jax.com/news/local/2024/11/07/a-log-truck-company-failed-to-do-checks-on-driver-who-caused-a-multi-vehicle-crash-now-it-must-pay-millions-to-victims/