Negligent Entrustment in Charlottesville Truck Accidents: Understanding Your Legal Rights

A truck accident in Charlottesville involving negligent entrustment occurs when a vehicle owner knowingly allows an incompetent, reckless, or unqualified driver to operate their vehicle. This legal concept becomes particularly significant in commercial trucking cases where companies may be held liable for entrusting their vehicles to drivers with poor safety records, substance abuse history, or inadequate training. In Virginia, negligent entrustment claims often arise when trucking companies fail to properly screen drivers, ignore red flags in driving records, or disregard federal regulations regarding driver qualifications. Key factors include the driver's history of accidents, traffic violations, license suspensions, and compliance with commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements. These cases typically involve more substantial damages due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, potentially leading to catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

Legal Rights and Considerations: Under Virginia Code § 8.01-243, victims have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Virginia follows the contributory negligence rule, which can bar recovery if the plaintiff is found even slightly at fault. Commercial trucks must carry minimum liability coverage of $750,000 per federal regulations. Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in cases of gross negligence. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations regarding driver qualification files and hiring practices can significantly impact liability determination. A Charlottesville truck crash lawyer(link is external) will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Click the links below to get information on legal claims from attorneys with experience in your type of truck-accident injury including:

Related Resources:

  • Charlottesville Circuit Court, 315 E High Street
  • Virginia DMV Crash Report Services
  • Virginia State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
  • Virginia Victim/Witness Program
  • Code of Virginia Transportation Laws (§ 46.2)
  • FMCSA Safety Regulations Database

Return to the Charlottesville truck accident information page

Most recent accident reports

 

A devastating two-vehicle crash claimed one life on Sunday morning, January 26, 2025, at the intersection of East Rio Road and Albemarle Square in Char

Date: 
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Type: Car Accident

A single-fatality plane crash occurred Saturday morning in a wooded area near Route 29 and the Rivanna River in Albemarle County, Virginia.

Date: 
Saturday, January 25, 2025

On January 10, 2025, a tragic pedestrian accident occurred on Route 230 in Madison County, Virginia, resulting in the death of 73-year-old Eldon L. Yoder from Pratts.

Date: 
Friday, January 10, 2025
Roadway: 
Route 230

On January 4, 2024, at approximately 7:45 p.m., a serious pedestrian-vehicle collision occurred on Route 29 in Madison County, Virginia, resulting in life-threatening injuries to a 21-year-old Culpeper resid

Date: 
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Roadway: 
Route 29
Date: 
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Roadway: 
Colston Drive
City: 
Ivy, VA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Fire

Multi-Vehicle Accidents in Charlottesville: Navigating Complex Personal Injury Claims

When multiple vehicles collide on Charlottesville's busy roads like Route 250

Date: 
Friday, November 22, 2024
Roadway: 
I-64
Type: Car Accident