Michigan drivers navigating the Upper Peninsula may cross paths with many commercial trucks. Commercial trucks pass through the UP on their way to other destinations and help keep local businesses operating. Unfortunately, they also create a significant degree of risk for everyone else on the road. In 2023, there were 15,088 collisions involving commercial vehicles in Michigan. 93 of those crashes resulted in people dying, with a total of 103 reported fatalities. Many of these crashes caused substantial property damage and injuries to the people in the smaller vehicles.
A significant portion of those collisions occurred because of something a commercial driver did or failed to do. Can those affected by semi-truck collisions hold the transportation companies that employ the drivers and own the semi-trucks accountable for these crashes?
Employers may have vicarious liability for commercial crashes
Typically, people are responsible for the consequences of their own decisions. However, there are scenarios in which liability for a situation passes to another party. Employers are often liable in scenarios where their workers cause harm to others.
Vicarious liability is the legal concept of one party becoming liable for the consequences of choices made by others. Typically, employers have a degree of liability for harm caused by their employees while they are on the job. If workers are negligent or engage in misconduct while on the clock, their employers may ultimately be responsible.
In some cases, trucking companies make decisions that increase the risk that people face on the road. They may not properly investigate the driving history and professional record of the people they hire. They may not offer adequate training. In some cases, transportation companies contribute to crash risk by failing to maintain their vehicles.
Those affected by semi-truck collisions often need help reviewing the situation. Small details can have a major impact on their options for compensation after a collision occurs. Those hoping to hold a trucking company accountable often need support evaluating their options and developing a viable legal case.
Reviewing the circumstances of a semi-truck collision with a skilled legal team may be the first step necessary in the pursuit of justice after a commercial crash. Injured motorists and grieving families often need help holding unsafe businesses responsible for their questionable practices, and that’s okay.