If you or a loved one has been injured by an unsafe semi truck driver, you can contact attorney Eric Hageman for help. Eric is a member of the American Association for Justice Truck Accident Litigation Group and has spoken at national seminars on truck accident lawsuit strategy. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” (reserved for fewer than 5% of lawyers) every year since 2004. He recently won $10 million for a man who was severely burned and $5 million for a man whose knee was crushed and later required amputation.
Reporting an Unsafe Semi Truck Driver
Below is a shocking video from a state patrol video cam. The driver falls out of the truck, barely able to stand.
If you witness a semi truck driver speeding, tailgating, passing illegally or otherwise driving in an unsafe manner, you can report the driver to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Go to the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database here: http://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov/.
Before you go to the above website, read the instructions below. They will be helpful.
When you get there, go to the bottom of the page to “Truck Safety”. If the following applies, check the box and continue:
- The safety issue involves an interstate (shipping between two or more states) carrier or a hazardous materials carrier.
- The violation occurred within the last 60 days.
You will need to be able to identify the trucking company. After filling out your name and other information on the form, you will get to a search page to find the company. To use the search, you will need the name , US DOT number or MC number of the company.
- Name: If you do not know the full name of the company, you can search by part of the name and you will get a list of companies with names that include the word.
- US DOT Number: The US DOT number is an identification number assigned to truck companies that haul products between states. The number is assigned by FMCSA and serves as a way to identify the truck transportation company during investigations, inspections, compliance reviews, and crashes. By law, the US DOT number has to be displayed on the side of the truck.
- MC Number: The MC number, sometimes referred to as a docket number, is a motor carrier identification number. A MC number indicates that the company has applied for operating authority from FMCSA. Companies are not required to have the MC number marked on the truck.
Once you have identified the company, you will be able to detail your complaint and submit the form to FMCSA. The agency will then investigate your complaint.
Does Filing a Complaint with FMCSA Protect My Legal Rights if I was Injured by a Semi Truck?
No, filing a complaint with FMCSA does not protect your legal rights. You will need a lawyer with experience winning lawsuits against trucking companies to help you. This should be done immediately because a spoliation letter needs to be sent to the trucking company to prevent it from destroying evidence. You can contact me for a free consultation by submitting our online form or by calling 1-888-377-8900 (toll free).
Punitive Damages
If there is sufficient evidence that the semi-trailer driver was driving in a grossly negligent way, you may have a punitive damages claim against the driver and possibly others, including a trucking company, retail company (owner of the freight being hauled), and others. Punitive damages claims seek an amount of money over and above the amount sought to compensate for pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost income. Punitive damages are meant to punish bad behavior, so the amount of money sought in a lawsuit should be enough to exact some financial pain. You will need to discuss this with your lawyer.
Injury Information
Attorney Eric Hageman represents accident victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits and has won millions for his clients.
