How to investigate a trucker who caused a truck accident

Rule 4 of “Big 10 Rules of the Road”

• Presented by: Steven M. Gursten
• Description: This is the fifth of a series of 13 videos for truck attorneys, on handling truck accident cases. In this video, Steve Gursten shares Rule 4 of his “Big 10 Rules of the Road” during the American Association for Justice Interstate Truck Litigation Group conference in New Orleans. Rule 4 shows attorneys how to investigate a trucker who was involved in a crash.
• Length: 1 minute, 18 seconds.

Video Transcript:

Slide: Investigation of truck driver

A. Employing motor carrier must make an inquiry into each state where applicant holds license, for past three years (mist maintain driver’s MV record).

B. Carrier must investigate driver safety performance with previous employers for last three years.

C. Investigation info must be retained for as long as driver employed, plus three years.

Rule four, investigation of the truck driver. I think of this as the rule of threes. Everything is three years. My friend Ken Shigley actually had a great suggestion on this rule that if the former employer does not retain the truck driver’s information for as long as that truck driver was employed there plus three years, and that truck driver goes on to a new trucking company and causes a catastrophic injury or death… And that trucking company, that new employer says, ‘Wait a minute, if I had known how dangerous and unsafe this driver was, we would never had hired him.’ You now have a cause of action against the current employer and the former employer as well – doubling the applicable insurance.

How Michigan Auto Law can help with your truck accident

If you’re a truck accident attorney and you need help with a truck accident lawsuit, take a look at our online guide, Help for attorneys handling truck accident cases. For more information, here’s a blog on how to investigate the trucker’s background and history.

If you’ve been in a truck crash, call (800) 968-1001 to speak with one of our truck accident attorneys now. There’s no fee or obligation, and we’re here for you.