Can I Sue J.B. Hunt for My Truck Wreck Injuries in Washington?

can I sue jb hunt

J.B. Hunt is one of the largest trucking companies in the United States. The transportation giant ships everything from U.S. postal mail to livestock. Unfortunately, J. B. Hunt has a track record of unsafe and often negligent practices that date back more than a decade. Thanks to these practices, the company has caused a staggering number of crashes in recent years.

If you or someone you love has been hurt by a J. B. Hunt truck, you deserve to understand your options, and you should know what to do next. In this blog, we’ll talk about the safety record of J.B. Hunt, explain how liability works in a truck crash, and discuss how a truck crash attorney can help.

J. B. Hunt Has a History of Unsafe Behavior and Outright Negligence

In 2018, J. B. Hunt settled a class action lawsuit with 11,000 workers for failing to adequately pay drivers in accordance with California law. Under company policy, J. B. Hunt paid drivers a different hourly rate based on what activity they were performing; the company deemed that more complicated or dangerous activities were worth more.

Based on this policy, J. B. Hunt refused to pay drivers for rest breaks. This refusal created a hazardous situation in which drivers felt pressured to skip rest breaks and keep driving in order to earn a higher hourly wage. Fortunately, the drivers fought back with help from attorneys. Eventually, J.B. Hunt settled the lawsuit out of court for $15 million.

However, the company’s record of causing crashes has persisted even after the settlements. Since 2018, J. B. Hunt trucks have been involved in 1,530 crashes. Thirty-nine people died in these wrecks, and another 523 suffered injuries.

Understanding How Liability Works in Truck Crashes

Negligent actions by truck drivers and trucking companies cause devastating truck wrecks, which leads to great suffering for victims. However, our justice system gives victims the opportunity to fight back and hold trucking companies accountable by working with an experienced truck wreck lawyer to file a claim and, if necessary, a lawsuit.

It’s especially important to work with an experienced attorney because truck crashes are much more complex than car wrecks. So, just because an attorney has successfully handled car or motorcycle crashes before, it doesn’t mean they’re prepared to take on a trucking company and their insurer in court.

One reason why truck crash cases tend to be more complex is that truck wrecks often have more than one cause. Common factors that contribute to truck crashes include:

  • Driver error, fatigue, intoxication, or distraction
  • Driving too fast or dangerously for the conditions
  • Improperly maintained trucks or equipment
  • Defective or faulty parts
  • Improperly loaded trailers
  • Lack of training
  • Violation of safety regulations such as hours-of-service (HOS) regulations

Often, several of these factors combine to cause a crash. For example, let’s say truck driver causes a wreck by driving while drowsy or improperly loading a trailer. However, it turns out that the truck driver’s actions resulted from employer negligence, like pressure to drive through rest breaks, inadequate training, or reckless hiring procedures.

Not only that, but after further investigation, it turns out that a defect in one of the truck’s tires made the crash worse. In a case like this, you could have claims for compensation against the truck driver, the trucking company, and the company that manufactured the defective tire.

However, it can be extremely challenging to uncover all the factors that cause a crash unless you have a dedicated team of truck crash attorneys on your side. At Seattle Truck Law, we know how to preserve on-board trucking records, analyze physical evidence from the crash, and demand that negligent parties take responsibility for their actions.

RELATED: Do Truck Companies Pressure Employees to Break the Law?

Hurt by a J. B. Hunt Truck? Call Seattle Truck Law

Trucking violations cause countless accidents on Washington roads. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a crash with a J. B. Hunt truck, you deserve answers and justice.

At Seattle Truck Law, we’ve devoted our careers to helping victims like you get the justice they deserve after a terrible crash. We understand how to investigate, capture, and preserve evidence that would otherwise disappear — including violations that the trucking company does their best to hide. We’re also experienced in litigating the most complex truck crash cases and have a track record of getting results for our clients.

If you have questions about your case and your legal options, you can talk with an experienced attorney today at no cost. And if you hire us, you won’t pay any attorney’s fees unless we win.

Schedule your free, no-risk initial consultation with an attorney from the Seattle Truck Law team today by calling 866-580-HURT or filling out our quick online contact form.

References

Martinez, S. (2018, October 9). J. B. Hunt settles truck driver wage lawsuit for $15 million. Heavy Duty Trucking. Retrieved from https://www.truckinginfo.com/316322/j-b-hunt-settles-truck-driver-wage-lawsuit-for-15-million

SAFER Web – Company Snapshot: JB HUNT TRANSPORT INC. (2020, February 16). Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=USDOT&original_query_param=NAME&query_string=80806&original_query_string=J%20B%20HUNT

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.