It’s bad when a trucking company cares more about money than keeping people safe. Some companies might not take care of their trucks, make trucks carry too much, or force drivers to do things they shouldn’t. This can cause big accidents that hurt people and change their lives forever. People who have been hurt by these companies can hold them accountable.
The skilled truck accident attorneys at TopDog Law know how to take on these big companies. They know the tricks that trucking companies use to get out of being held accountable. Victims can fight back and get justice with the right legal help. Here’s how to punish trucking companies that are too greedy and keep other people safe.
Demand Punitive Damages
To punish greedy trucking companies, you can hit them where it hurts the most: in the bank accounts. Companies only pay for these kinds of damages when they act really badly, like when they ignore clear safety signs. The company will be punished so that other businesses don’t do the same thing.
That might be enough if a business skipped safety steps to save money. Punitive damages are a way for courts to make it clear that people who risk their lives for profit will not be tolerated. After an accident, a trucking company may still be able to operate, but they will have to pay excessive damages. These financial losses can lead to better training and tighter safety checks.
Expose Safety Violations
There are clear safety laws that trucking companies must follow to keep workers and the public safe. But some companies that want to make more cash totally ignore these rules. Some common violations are:
- Not checking or taking care of trucks like they should
- Making drivers work longer than they’re allowed to
- Loading trucks with too much weight they can’t handle
If companies break the rules, it makes accidents happen more often, and they can be way worse when they do happen. Log books, GPS records, and company memos can prove that the rules were broken. A good lawyer can gather this evidence and use it to make a strong case.
The public can also find out what went wrong and how the crash happened. If the company doesn’t change how it does business, it could face fines, tighter oversight, or both. For victims, it’s a chance to make companies accountable for what they did and maybe stop it from happening again.
File a Civil Lawsuit
One of the best ways to punish a reckless trucking company is to file a lawsuit. People who got hurt can ask for justice in front of a judge or jury. Your lawyer can check out company records that might show long-term abuse while the case is going on. Emails, training logs, or internal reports can show really bad choices or habits that were made just to save some cash, even if it means compromising safety.
The court can ask the company explain how they handled driver complaints or any past violations. This can show if they knew about big safety problems and just didn’t care. When the truth gets revealed in court, it can affect the company’s reputation and make them pay a ton of money. So, companies usually switch things up after they get sued so they don’t get in more trouble later on.
Seek Compensation for All Damages
When trucks crash, they often damage more than just the vehicles involved. Victims may get injured badly, go through emotional trauma, and lose money. You could possibly get compensation for:
- Emergency care and hospital expenses
- Long-term care, physical therapy, or home care
- Not being able to work and losing future money
- Ongoing pain, stress, or mental health problems
A lawyer can totally help you figure out how much money the crash has made you lose, both now and even later on.