Research from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) shows that higher jury awards against trucking companies are now driven by pre-crash negligence, not just crash severity. Substance abuse leads to a 340.7% increase in total awards, followed by administrative oversights and speeding. Each additional negligent behavior increases awards by 86.5%.

The study also reveals that procedural manipulation in state courts led to an estimated $102.8 million annual financial loss for the industry. State courts prevent cases from reaching federal courts, resulting in a median trial award of $1.1 million higher in state courts. Trucking firms operating in various locales may face biases in state courts.

The report highlights that allegations of carrier negligence, such as substance abuse and administrative failures, now result in larger financial multipliers than on-road infractions. The industry faces significant financial risks due to procedural barriers in state courts, leading to higher trial awards compared to federal courts. Trucking firms operating in multiple locations may be more vulnerable to biases in state court litigation.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Pre-crash negligence triples trucking company liability