J.B. Hunt is a transportation, delivery, and logistics company based in Arkansas. If you have not heard of this company, you might have seen its trucks on the highway. If you are injured in a truck accident, and the truck is connected to J.B. Hunt, our team can help you sue for damages.
It may be possible to sue various parties after a truck accident, including J.B. Hunt. Often, negligent truckers are J.B. Hunt employees, and the company may be held vicariously liable simply because they are the trucker’s employer, and the trucker caused the accident while in furtherance of normal job duties. However, other truckers might be independent contractors, and J.B. Hunt cannot be held vicariously liable. Even so, there may be ways to hold the company directly liable, depending on the circumstances.
Ask our Maryland truck accident lawyers about a free, private legal review to begin your case by calling Rice Law at (410) 694-7291.
How Do I Sue J.B. Hunt for a Truck Collision in Maryland?
You may sue the company J.B. Hunt if you are injured in an accident involving a truck driver working for them. How we approach the case and the legal strategies we employ may vary depending on the negligent trucker’s employment status.
Does Vicarious Liability Apply?
Vicarious liability may be applied to employers when their employees negligently cause injuries. For an employer to be held vicariously liable, the employee’s negligence must occur while they are in furtherance of their regular duties.
We must check the employment status of the truck driver. If they are a J.B. Hunt employee, and their negligence is within the scope of their regular job duties, we can sue them and J.B. Hunt for damages.
If we find that the driver is not an employee but an independent contractor, vicarious liability may not apply. Independent contractors are not the same as employees. However, the trucker may have been misclassified.
If J.B. Hunt controls too many aspects of the trucker’s job (e.g., hours, salary, routes, working conditions), we can argue that the trucker should legally be considered an employee and that vicarious liability should apply.
What Other Legal Strategies Are Possible?
If J.B. Hunt hired the trucker who caused your accident despite knowing that they were unfit for the job and possibly dangerous on the road, we may argue that the company should be held liable for negligent hiring or entrustment.
Alternatively, if J.B. Hunt conducted no background check on the driver, we may argue negligent hiring because the company failed to exercise due diligence in hiring safe drivers, including independent contractors.
We may also argue that J.B. Hunt should be held directly liable if the accident happened as a direct result of the company’s failure to maintain the truck. If the truck broke down or there was a mechanical failure of some kind that could have been prevented with proper maintenance, J.B. Hunt should be held responsible.
Choose the Appropriate Venue
When we file the lawsuit, we may need to consider where to sue J.B. Hunt. Your accident might have happened in Maryland, but the company is headquartered in Arkansas. This means either state may have jurisdiction over the defendant.
Generally, plaintiffs file lawsuits in the state where they were injured. As such, our Maryland truck accident lawyers will probably file the case in Maryland. However, we can help you explore other options and determine what works best for you.
How Do I Prepare a Lawsuit Against J.B. Hunt for a Truck Collision?
Preparing a lawsuit is not easy, and we may need time to gather everything we need. Your attorney should help you from the very beginning of the case to the end.
Gather Evidence
We should check for available photos and videos from the crash. You, other drivers, or the truck may have had a dashcam that recorded the accident. You might also have taken photos of the aftermath to show to insurance companies.
The discovery phase of the lawsuit, which begins shortly after the defendant responds to our initial complaint, allows us to request access to all the defendant’s relevant information and evidence, including J.B. Hunt business records pertaining to the accident, the trucker, and the truck involved.
Identify the People You Wish to Sue
We must also identify the people you want to sue. While we will likely need to include the truck driver in the lawsuit, we still need to consider whether we should sue J.B. Hunt.
If the trucker is an employee, vicarious liability may apply, and we should include J.B. Hunt. If the trucker is an independent contractor, we can include J.B. Hunt only if we believe we can prove they are directly liable for the accident, which could be more challenging.
Remember, if we fail to include a defendant only to realize our mistake late, it might be difficult, or even impossible, to amend our pleadings and include them in the case.
Preparing Important Paperwork and Documentation
Although paperwork sounds like a boring, unimportant step in the legal process, it is a crucial element of your case. Courts require proper documentation that complies with applicable court rules and procedures.
All paperwork and documentation we submit to the court must be accurate and complete. If anything is missing or too vague, the court could reject the entire case for insufficient pleadings.
FAQs About Suing J.B. Hunt for a Truck Collision in Maryland
Is J.B. Hunt Legally Responsible for Truck Accidents?
Possibly. If J.B. Hunt hired the negligent trucker who caused your accident as an employee, the company may be vicariously liable. If the trucker is an independent contractor, vicarious liability does not apply, but the company could be held directly liable for something like negligent hiring.
Who Should I Sue After a Collision with a J.B. Hunt Truck?
You should sue the people or entities you believe played a role in causing the truck accident. This commonly includes the trucker involved in the crash and the company they work for, possibly J.B. Hunt or another logistics service that contracted with J.B. Hunt.
How Do I Start a Civil Lawsuit Against J.B. Hunt for a Truck Crash?
You can begin a lawsuit by hiring an experienced attorney, gathering evidence, and filing a formal complaint against the defendants in the appropriate civil court. It can take time to organize a lawsuit, and you should call a lawyer for help as soon as possible.
How Do I Claim Damages in a Truck Accident Lawsuit Against J.B. Hunt?
First, we must assess your injuries and losses. You likely have incurred significant medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other financial expenses. Next, we should evaluate your degree of pain, suffering, and distress and claim non-economic damages. Review all your losses, injuries, and painful experiences with your lawyer.
Do I Have to Sue J.B. Hunt to Get Compensation for a Truck Accident?
Not necessarily. You might find that the trucker and J.B. Hunt have more than enough insurance to cover your damages. Alternatively, J.B. Hunt may offer a good settlement, and a lawsuit might be unnecessary. However, insurance and settlements are often limited, and you do not want to sacrifice any damages for the sake of efficiency. As such, a lawsuit might be the best way to get the full extent of your damages covered.
Ask Our Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys to Help You with Your Case
Ask our Laurel, MD truck accident lawyers about a free, private legal review to begin your case by calling Rice Law at (410) 694-7291.