When a Trucking Company Says "That Driver Doesn’t Work for Us" Key Takeaways: The statutory employee doctrine may allow an injured person to hold a motor carrier responsible for a driver’s negligence even when a contract labels that driver an independent contractor. It arises from federal leasing regulations, particularly 49 C.F.R. § 376.12(c)(1), which requires…
Protecting the Evidence That Proves Your Columbus Truck Crash Case Key Takeaways: A spoliation letter is a formal written demand sent to a trucking company, its insurer, and other responsible parties directing them to preserve all evidence tied to a semi-truck crash. Evidence can include electronic logging device data, engine control module downloads, dashcam footage,…
Why Decatur Crash Victims Are Paying Closer Attention to Negligent Entrustment Claims Key Takeaways: A negligent entrustment truck accident claim allows an injured person to hold a vehicle owner or trucking company directly responsible for putting an unfit driver behind the wheel. Alabama Supreme Court precedent sets out the core elements a plaintiff must prove,…
Who Else Can Be Held Responsible When an 18-Wheeler Load Is Arranged by a Third Party? Key Takeaways: Freight broker liability in a Memphis semi-truck accident case usually depends on whether the broker negligently selected an unsafe motor carrier or exercised enough control over the shipment to be treated like a carrier. Federal law defines…
What a Trucking Company’s Paperwork Can Reveal After a Memphis Crash Key Takeaways: Federal law requires interstate motor carriers to maintain driver qualification files proving they verified drivers met 49 C.F.R. Part 391 standards, including age, licensing, medical certification, road testing, annual driving record reviews, and prior-employer safety history. Missing records may evidence breach in…
How 49 CFR 393.75 Tire Tread Depth Rules Frame a Brookhaven Truck Death Investigation Key Takeaways: A fatal 18-wheeler collision near Brookhaven has renewed focus on how federal equipment standards and Mississippi law shape truck-crash liability. Federal tire tread-depth rules, state weight limits, and commercial licensing requirements often become central lines of inquiry after a…
The Clock That Starts Ticking the Moment a Semi Hits Your Car Key Takeaways: Federal rule 49 CFR § 382.303 requires motor carriers to test truck drivers for alcohol after qualifying crashes within two hours, or document why testing wasn’t completed within eight hours. That window is critical because alcohol metabolizes quickly, and missed tests…
Mississippi Seat Belt Defense 63-2-3 and Highway Cab Fire Claims Key Takeaways: Mississippi law treats 18-wheelers, including their trailers, as covered motor vehicles, which shapes how burn injury victims pursue compensation after a highway cab fire. The state follows pure comparative negligence, meaning a partially at-fault victim may still recover a reduced share of damages….
The Paper Trail That Can Prove a Truck Company Knew About a Dangerous Defect Key Takeaways: A DVIR, or driver vehicle inspection report, is a federally required record under 49 CFR 396.11 documenting whether a commercial truck’s core safety systems, brakes, steering, tires, coupling devices, lighting, and more, were working at the end of a…
The Steel Bar That Should Have Stopped the Trailer Key Takeaways: FMVSS 223 sets federal performance requirements for rear impact guards on large trailers, while FMVSS 224 requires qualifying trailers (GVWR 4,536 kg or more) to have compliant guards installed per manufacturer’s instructions. In Memphis truck crash claims, a missing, defective, or improperly mounted guard…