Trucking, Bus, Motorcoach, and Rideshare

Gallagher Sharp represents transportation providers in accident claims and lawsuits which involve wrongful death, serious injuries, and other damages, including:

  • Motor carriers and trucking companies
  • Owner-operators
  • Bus (including school transportation), and motorcoach organizations
  • Rideshare
  • Leading transportation insurers and TPAs

Our attorneys have a strong working knowledge of the complex legal and technical issues encountered in serious trucking and bus accidents, including FMCSRS relating to hours of service, driver qualifications, vehicle inspection and maintenance, commercial driver license standards, and drug and alcohol testing. In litigation and jury trials, we have successfully defended against Reptile Theory arguments, traumatic brain injury claims, and independent claims of negligent hiring, training, entrustment, supervision, and retention.

Our transportation attorneys are located throughout Ohio and Michigan and are trained to provide Rapid Response services in order to provide our clients on-site legal counsel and investigative assistance. As part of our immediate response capabilities, we work with independent adjusting firms and highly respected experts in the fields of accident reconstruction, biomechanical engineering, and conspicuity, throughout the nation in order to quickly gather facts, investigate the scene and vehicles, and position the claim for the best defense possible for our clients.

We serve as national counsel for some of the largest trucking companies in the nation, and are tasked with overseeing the litigation and trial strategy for cases throughout the country. The firm’s trucking attorneys regularly consult and advise our clients on DOT compliance, as well as FMCSRs, Motor Carrier and Driver standard of care, CSA interpretation, and other cutting edge transportation issues.

We are heavily involved, including in leadership, speaking, writing and teaching roles, in industry associations such as the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), and the Arkansas Trucking Seminar.

RIDESHARE

 Gallagher Sharp’s Transportation Group also represents rideshare companies and third-party independent contractor drivers in cases that involve motor vehicle accidents, intentional torts, assault, battery, and sexual assault. Our attorneys have experience and knowledge to successfully defend against employer-employee, vicarious liability, agency, and negligent hiring, training, entrustment, supervision, and retention claims that oftentimes are alleged against rideshare companies to inflate damages. We continuously monitor and stay informed on all aspects pertaining to the developing rideshare field, including the Transportation Network Company (TNC) statutes that have been enacted around the country. The transportation attorneys at Gallagher Sharp are seasoned trial lawyers who have the experience to litigate a case involving a rideshare company or a third-party independent contractor driver from the pleadings stage all the way through trial.

 

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