When people get into truck accidents, it is not only the truck drivers themselves who may be held responsible. In many cases, the truck brokers that manage and oversee the drivers may also be considered legally liable for any accidents that occur. Here is what you need to know about truck broker liability if you get into a truck accident:


  • Truck brokers are responsible for overseeing truckers they employ
      • From a legal perspective, truck brokers are liable for any drivers they employ to haul cargo. This means they can be held legally responsible if their actions (or failure to act) contribute to a motor vehicle accident occurring. It also means they are supposed to take certain steps to minimize the chances of an accident occurring.
  • Truck brokers are meant to ensure their drivers act responsibly
      • One of the biggest responsibilities of any truck broker is to ensure the drivers they hire are safe drivers. This often involves looking at a driver’s BASIC score, which assesses how safe they are as drivers based on a number of different factors. Truck brokers do not always look at a driver’s BASIC score before handing out a contract, however, putting people at increased risk of harm.
  • Negligent brokers may overlook reckless driving
      • Truck brokers make their money by putting out a contract to haul cargo, and then make truck drivers bid down to obtain the contract, with the lowest bid typically winning. The less money a driver is willing to work for, the more money the broker makes, so there is an incentive to accept the lowest bid available. Unfortunately, this can lead brokers to overlook reckless drivers if they are willing to accept low pay and unreasonable schedules.
  • Truck brokers often try to deny liability
      • Unsurprisingly, truck brokers typically do not want to accept responsibility when one of their drivers gets into an accident. If they can get away with it, they will try to force all the responsibility onto the driver, escaping any blame for their own negligence. However, with strong legal representation, it can be possible to hold them accountable for their mistakes.
  • You should hire a lawyer to represent you in your truck broker liability case
    • The best way to ensure you get a good outcome for your case is to speak to a lawyer with experience handling truck broker liability cases. They can help you review your legal options, and create a strategy that best suits your circumstances. The sooner you call, the sooner they can get to work for you.

If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact the Tennessee personal injury lawyers at the Keith Williams Law Group. With convenient offices located in Nashville and Lebanon, our lawyers will work with you to create a litigation strategy that protects your legal rights and serves your personal needs. For more information or a free consultation, please contact us at 615-444-2900 or visit our contact page.