Do You Sue the Truck Driver or the Trucking Company in a Negligent Maintenance Accident?
Truck crashes caused by poor upkeep are often the product of negligence, and that negligence stretches beyond the guy behind the wheel. If faulty brakes, bald tires, or sketchy suspension caused your accident, you’ve got legal options. But who exactly is responsible?
At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we teach clients how to take on not just the driver, but the corporate giants hiding behind company names and liability protections.
Nevada Law: Multiple Players May Be Accountable
In Nevada truck accidents where negligent maintenance is the culprit, liability doesn’t stop at the driver. You can (and, frankly, should) sue multiple parties: the truck driver, the trucking company, maintenance providers, even parts manufacturers. Big rig accidents are typically multi-party liability stories.
Why the Trucking Company May Be Liable
There are several theories behind the trucking company’s potential liability. These include:
- Vicarious Liability (Respondeat Superior)
If the truck driver is a company employee performing job duties, Nevada holds the employer responsible for their faults. Yes, even maintenance-related ones.
- Negligent Maintenance by the Company
Trucking companies must follow stringent inspection and repair schedules. A failure here (brakes, lights, tires, suspension systems) is a direct breach of duty.
- Negligent Hiring or Entrustment
If the company hired unqualified or poorly trained drivers, or knowingly left them behind faulty vehicles or even allowed independent contractors with unsafe logs, that’s negligent entrustment. Nevada law allows you to hold companies accountable when they negligently entrust a dangerous machine to the wrong operator.
When Can the Driver Share the Blame?
Even with corporate liability, the driver may still be directly responsible:
- Operating recklessly (speeding, distracted driving)
- Skipping pre-trip inspections or ignoring glaring maintenance issues
- Driving impaired or fatigued
If the driver’s behavior or lack of routine checks contributed to the crash, that’s negligence too. Meaning? You can add them as a defendant in your legal claim. Not sure who’s liable in your case? Consider speaking with a Las Vegas negligent truck maintenance lawyer to clear things out for you.
Why Suing the Company Matters
Trucking companies carry deeper wallets and higher insurance caps than drivers. Suing them taps into broader avenues of recovery:
- The company’s liability does not excuse the driver, but ensures broader financial backing
- Maintenance records, hiring files, and repair logs offer stronger trail evidence
- Courts can allocate fault among driver, company, and third-party mechanics
If you think negligence played a role in your truck crash, act fast. Evidence vanishes, logs get shredded, memories fade. You need an attorney who investigates all potential defendants, uses subpoenas to secure records and black-box downloads, and builds a full liability map. At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we can help with all that and won’t settle until every responsible party pays.
Discuss Your Legal Options Today
You could potentially sue multiple parties in a negligent maintenance accident in Nevada. And, often, you should. It’s the only way to secure full justice for your injuries and the best way to ensure corporations don’t escape accountability.
Contact Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Let us show you who’s liable and build the case that gets you the maximum compensation you deserve. Call at 702-450-5000 to get your free case review.
