WHEN IS A THIRD PARTY LIABLE FOR A CAR ACCIDENT CAUSED BY AN UNSAFE DRIVER?

When a car accident occurs, everyone involved is likely to experience financial damages, even if they do not suffer serious injuries. Victims may be unsure about their options for recovering compensation for these damages, but typically, the driver who was at fault will be liable for property damages and medical treatment. However, in some cases, another party may also be held responsible for the injuries and damages caused by an unsafe driver. These situations may include:

  • Trucking companies – Due to the high potential for injuries in semi-trailer truck accidents, truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial driver’s licenses, and they must follow strict rules and regulations when operating their vehicles. A trucking company that employed an unsafe driver may be held liable for injuries caused by that driver, especially in cases involving negligent hiring or retention. A company may be found to be negligent if it knew or should have known that a driver was unfit to safely operate a commercial vehicle.
  • Employers – In addition to trucking companies, a wide variety of other employers may also be held responsible for accidents caused by employees during the course of their work. These may include delivery drivers, moving van operators, people using company cars, or a nanny or personal assistant who drives a vehicle owned by their employer.
  • Parents – When children are learning to drive or do not have a great deal of experience behind the wheel, parents should closely supervise them to ensure that they drive safely and protect the safety of everyone on the road. In cases involving negligent entrustment, a parent may be liable for injuries that occurred because they allowed a child that was inexperienced or had a history of reckless behavior to drive a family vehicle.
  • Car owners – Negligent entrustment may apply in any situation in which the owner of a car or truck allows someone else to drive their vehicle. If the driver was known to be inexperienced, or if the vehicle owner knew or should have known that the driver was incompetent or reckless, the owner may be held responsible for damages caused by the driver.

Contact a Cook County Car Accident Attorney

At Pullano & Siporin, we work to ensure that our clients are fully compensated for injuries caused by the negligence of another party. If you have been injured in a car or truck accident, we will identify all liable parties and ensure that they are held responsible. We are highly experienced in these types of cases, and we have a record of success obtaining multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. In one significant case, we secured a $14 million settlement for a man who was injured by a driver who was hired by a trucking company even though he had a history of DUI convictions, speeding violations, and driving with a suspended license. To arrange a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer, call our office today at 312-551-1100.

Sources:

http://www.uslaw.org/files/public/il_transportation_09.pdf

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/respondeat_superior

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