Key Issues in Truck Accident Cases in Santa Clarita: Who Can You Name in Your Santa Clarita Truck Accident Lawsuit?
There is no doubt that in Santa Clarita, and throughout the rest of the country, commercial truck accidents can lead to serious injuries and significant financial losses for the victims involved. As such, when serious commercial truck accidents occur, determining liability is a key issue for ensuring that Santa Clarita truck accident victims receive the compensation they are entitled to under California personal injury laws. One important legal principle that often applies in these cases is called the doctrine of vicarious liability. This legal doctrine holds employers, such as commercial trucking employers, legally responsible for the wrongful acts of their employees when those acts occur within the scope of the employee’s employment. What this means in a Santa Clarita truck accident case is that not only the truck driver that injured the truck accident victim may be on the hook for the victim’s damages, but also the commercial trucking company that employed them.
Vicarious Liability Under California Laws – What Is It?
Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine that enables a Santa Clarita truck accident victim to hold a commercial trucking employer liable for the negligent actions of their truck driver employee. Under California Civil Code Section 2338, “Unless required by or under the authority of law to employ that particular agent, a principal is responsible to third persons for the negligence of his agent in the transaction of the business of the agency, including wrongful acts committed by such agent in and as a part of the transaction of such business, and for his willful omission to fulfill the obligations of the principal.” Accordingly, it is clear that in Santa Clarita, under California laws, victims of truck accident cases in which a truck driver was driving a truck in the course of their employment, may be able to hold both the truck driver that injured them, and their employer, liable for their damages in court.
Independent Contractors and Ventura Truck Accident Cases
It is important for Santa Clarita truck accident victims to know that not all truck drivers are employed by a commercial trucking employer. Instead, some commercial trucking operations are performed by independent contractors. Sometimes trucking companies will argue that they were not employers for the purposes of vicarious liability. As such, it is best to consult with an experienced Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer about your case. An experienced Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer can help you determine who to name as a party in your personal injury case to get you justice due under the law.
A Law Firm that Helps Victims of Serious Truck Accident Cases in Santa Clarita
If you are in the Santa Clarita area and you need legal help with your truck accident case, contact the experienced Santa Clarita personal injury lawyers at the Trevino Law Firm. The experienced Santa Clarita personal injury lawyers at the Trevino Law Firm are here to help victims of serious accidents in Santa Clarita get compensation due for their injuries and losses. Contact the Trevino Law Firm today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2338.&lawCode=CIV
