Poorly Trained Truck Driver Accident Kansas City

Kansas City Poor Truck Driver Training Lawyers

Holding truck companies liable for failing to educate their drivers

All drivers of commercial trucks must have a commercial driver’s license. Drivers should have the training and experience for the type of truck they drive. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers are skilled at showing what steps, including driver education, could have prevented your accident. Our Kansas City poor truck training lawyers are skilled at holding truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for failing to educate their drivers about driver fatigue laws, how to manage blind spots, backing out accidents, and other preventable truck accidents. Our personal injury and wrongful death lawyers demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages. Call us today to assert your rights.

What type of training do truck drivers need to prevent accidents in Kansas City?

Virtually every truck accident is preventable if the driver understands how to anticipate the dangers and risks of driving trucks. When trucks collide with cars, the weight and dimensions of the trucks mean that the occupants of the cars will suffer serious injuries and deaths. Drivers of semis, rigs, tractor-trailers, flatbeds, delivery trucks, and every other truck should be educated by their employers and truck owners about proper safety techniques.

All drivers of commercial trucks (most trucks on the roads today) are required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) that tests their driving skills and ability to drive. To obtain a CDL permit, drivers must meet age and physical health requirements. Drivers must pass written general knowledge examinations and examinations about air brakes and combination vehicles. Some drivers may be required to obtain CDL endorsements, such as a Hazardous Materials (HazMat) endorsement. CDL drivers may also need to pass a background check. Drivers will need to pass a driving test, a control test, and an inspection test.

What should truck drivers be taught to help them avoid truck accidents in Missouri and Kansas?

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers review what training could have prevented your accident. Some of the many truck driving matters that should be taught vary depending on the type of truck. Common truck safety training issues include:

  • Understanding when and how to inspect their truck. Generally, truck drivers should inspect their cargo loads, tire pressure, and other safety features before each trip.
  • Knowing the federal and state rules that govern each phase of their trip.
  • Reviewing the FMCSA hours of service rules and abiding by their rules
  • Maintaining electronic driver logs that record when the truck is in operation
  • Understanding the various causes of truck accidents and how to avoid them such as:
    • How to conduct a wide turn in an intersection
    • How to back out into traffic
    • How to anticipate and manage blind spots
    • How to avoid driver fatigue
    • How to avoid driver distractions
    • Never drinking and driving. Generally, a truck driver can lose their driving privileges in both Missouri and Kansas if their blood alcohol content (BAC) level is .04 (as opposed to .08 for cars) or higher
    • How to avoid truck rollover accidents
    • How to avoid truck jackknife accidents
  • Ensuring that the trucks have rear safety guards that meet the legal standards - to help avoid truck underride accidents
  • How to back out into traffic – such as by using a spotter
  • Ensuring that the truck has the latest camera, video, and other technology to help the truck driver handle emergencies – and that truck drivers in Missouri and Kansas understand how to properly and safely use these technologies
  • What to do if the truck begins to skid
  • Which lanes of travel are designated for trucks
  • How to drive if the truck cargo begins to shift
  • How to properly change lanes and merge

Driver education also includes understanding what route to take before starting the journey instead of over-relying on the GPS.

Drivers who don’t follow the FMCSA guidelines, state laws, and trucking standards are more likely to:

  • Have head-on collisions
  • Rear-end other vehicles
  • Drive off the road
  • Fail to stop in time

Who is responsible for accidents due to a lack of truck driver education?

Our Kansas City poor truck training attorneys file claims against the truck driver and every truck company that should have ensured that the driver was properly trained. The defendants may include:

  • The employer of the truck driver
  • The owner of the truck – if different than the truck driver
  • The truck broker who arranged the shipment
  • The companies that requested the truck shipment

What are the benefits of properly training truck drivers?

The education of truck drivers is far from an idle expense. There are many benefits including benefits for:

  • Truck drivers. Drivers who are properly educated and trained are less likely to be involved in accidents, more likely to experience satisfaction in their jobs, and more likely to be better at their jobs.
  • Trucking companies. Truck companies who invest in their drivers are less likely to face personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits and higher liability insurance premiums. They’re also less likely to have to hire more truck drivers. Their customers are more likely to be satisfied because deliveries are more likely to be completed on time without damage to their inventory.
  • The public. Educated drivers are safer drivers. Fewer accidents mean fewer injuries and fatalities. Better truck drivers mean a more enjoyable experience for everyone on the road.

Driver education is not limited to new hires. As new rules and regulations are enacted, new trucking standards evolve, and new technological advancements are made; trucking companies and truck drivers should give/take additional courses to ensure that they are current with these changes.

Truck driver education should include basic driving skills, truck inspections and truck maintenance, and emergency response procedures. The emphasis should also be on putting safety before profits. Driver education should also include collecting, monitoring, and assessing numerous types of data such as miles traveled, the hours a driver is on the road, any accidents that do occur, and other information.

Do you have a Kansas City poor training truck lawyer near me?

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys has eight offices throughout Missouri and Kansas. We meet clients at our Kansas City office located at 510 Walnut Street, located a few blocks away from City Hall. We can meet with you at other Missouri offices in Lee’s Summit, St. Joseph, Blue Springs, and Parkville; and in our Kansas offices in Overland Park, Olathe and Victory Hills. If necessary, our lawyers make arrangements to see you away from the office. We also speak with clients by phone and through video conferences such as Zoom and Facetime.

We can answer all your questions, explain your rights, and fight for all the compensation you deserve.

Talk with our experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyers now

Truck drivers should understand how to merge, shift lanes, manage blind spots, turn at intersections, and back out. Many accidents can be avoided if trucking companies, truck owners, and truck drivers prioritize safe driving strategies over speed and profit. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, our personal injury lawyers have helped many personal injury and wrongful death victims obtain strong recoveries – some for more than $1 million dollars. Our Kansas City poor truck training lawyers demand compensation for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage.

To schedule a free consultation, please call us or complete our contact form. We represent clients throughout Missouri and Kansas.