The Dangers of Unqualified Truck Drivers

Like other states, Washington imposes laws limiting the size and weight of commercial trucks and placing regulations for equipment, training, and driver qualifications. Commercial trucks are large, heavy, and difficult to maneuver, all imposing a safety hazard to others on the road, particularly small private passenger vehicles. A large, unwieldy truck presents an even greater danger to others on the road when the driver behind the wheel isn’t properly qualified.

Putting qualifications in place for truck drivers helps to ensure the safest possible operation of massive trucks that can cause catastrophe to those in smaller vehicles in a truck accident in Washington. In the case you were injured by an unqualified truck driver, contact our truck accident attorneys in Seattle.

What Qualifications Are Required for Truck Drivers in Washington?

Before taking a job carrying freight in a commercial truck, or before driving single and combination vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds, drivers must have specific qualifications, including obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Washington. Before gaining a CDL, drivers must first obtain a commercial driver’s learner’s permit. This requires meeting the following qualifications:

• Drivers must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid, current Washington driver’s license
• They must have a social security number and proof of residency
• They must provide a list of all states in which they’ve held a driver’s license within the last ten years
• They must pass a driver’s test showing basic knowledge of driving, road rules, and vehicle control

Once a potential driver obtains a learning permit, they must pass a driver’s training course within 180 days of gaining their permit.

Some drivers are not eligible for a commercial driver’s license, including those with histories of DUI convictions, specific felony records, or two or more serious traffic violations in Washington within three years of their application.

Is an Unqualified Truck Driver a Danger on the Road?

It takes special training and practice to safely handle a large commercial truck. Trucks require much longer stopping times when applying brakes compared to smaller vehicles. They also require wider turns. Accidents caused by unqualified drivers include the following:

• Rear-ending accidents due to long stopping times or failure to adapt braking time for weather conditions
• Rollovers due to overly sharp turns
• Over-height accidents due to an unqualified driver driving under a bridge or overpass while ignoring or underestimating height limits
• Jackknife accidents due to an unqualified driver who fails to properly control their trailer which may slide sideways and cause an accident
• Unsafe lane changes due to an unqualified driver’s inexperience or lack of training in managing blind spots
• Collisions, run-off-the-road accidents, and failure to yield the right of way due to an unqualified driver’s error or fatigue due to improperly logging driving hours

Commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries in Seattle to others on the road. For this reason, trucking companies have a duty to carefully regulate their drivers and use proper hiring and training practices.

Liability in Truck Accidents with Unqualified Driver

When a driver isn’t properly qualified to drive a commercial truck due to improper hiring or training processes, the trucking company is liable for damages to accident victims, such as their property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.

Trucking companies and their drivers owe a duty of care to take reasonable measures to prevent causing injury to others, such as ensuring that drivers meet the necessary qualifications. When a trucking company breaches this duty of care and it results in injuries and damages to others, the company is liable for damages.