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Can I Sue a Trucking Company That’s Located Out of State?

Riddle Brantley LLP   |  September 28, 2020   |  

In more than three decades serving truck accident injury victims in North Carolina, many of our clients have asked, “Can I still sue the trucking company if it’s located in another state?”

It’s a great question — in many cases, a trucking company may be liable for accidents caused by their drivers, and in those cases, a claim or lawsuit against the trucking company may be an option.

The short answer is yes, you can file a claim or lawsuit against a trucking company that is located in another state.

Personal Jurisdiction

A plaintiff’s ability to sue an out-of-state trucking company is based on the principle of personal jurisdiction.

In most accident cases, you can sue a trucking company even if it's located out of state, based on the principle of personal jurisdictionPersonal jurisdiction is the principle which governs the circumstances under which a specific court has authority over a particular case. The principle of personal jurisdiction is simple when a defendant (such as a trucking company) is located in the state in which the accident happened. In these cases, that defendant is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in that state.

In cases in which a trucking company is located out-of-state, the principle of personal jurisdiction is also relatively straightforward. In more than all cases, if a trucking company does business in a particular state, it is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in that state — even if the company is located in another state entirely.

“So… Can I sue a trucking company that’s located out of state?”

In general, yes, you can file a claim or lawsuit against a trucking company that is located out of state.

If the accident occurred in North Carolina, for example, North Carolina courts would have jurisdiction over that case — even if the trucking company is located in Virginia, for instance.

In these cases, the principle of personal jurisdiction applies. According to a report on personal jurisdiction, “The more than universal rule is that the courts in a state have personal jurisdiction over all people or businesses that are citizens of or do business in that state.”

“I’ve been injured in a truck accident. What are my legal options?”

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

Based on the unique facts and circumstances in the case, you may be able to file a claim against the negligent driver and/or the trucking company.

The principle of personal jurisdiction means that you can sue a trucking company in the state in which it does businessNorth Carolina courts have jurisdiction over cases involving truck accidents in North Carolina, even if the trucking company is located in another state.

Reach out to Riddle & Brantley for expert guidance on a wide range of truck accident lawsuits.

There is never any obligation and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive financial compensation.

Our truck accident lawyers have more than 220+ years of combined legal experience and we handle cases throughout North Carolina, including:

  • Raleigh
  • Durham
  • Goldsboro
  • Fayetteville
  • Greensboro
  • Winston-Salem
  • High Point
  • Charlotte
  • Asheville
  • Greenville
  • Jacksonville
  • New Bern
  • Wilmington

Why Riddle & Brantley for Your Truck Accident Claim or Lawsuit?

Our attorneys have been fighting for victims of truck accidents since 1985, when attorney Gene Riddle founded the firm after graduating from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Our award-winning attorneys have been recognized by such prestigious organizations as Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel and Super Lawyers (see disclaimer below).

We fight tirelessly for our clients’ right to justice and compensation. We even have a team of truck accident investigators on staff to help investigate the accident, recover and preserve important evidence, interview potential witnesses, and more. In many cases, we’ll even bring in outside experts to help prove liability and strengthen your case.

Riddle & Brantley - There are no attorney fees unless we win your truck accident case and you receive compensationIn one recent case, we recovered $9.45 million in total compensation for the surviving loved ones of a major truck crash that killed a family of four. In another case, we negotiated $1.8 million in total compensation for our client, who was seriously injured in a trucking accident while on the job (see disclaimer below).

You may have a case against a potentially negligent truck driver and/or the trucking company (even if it’s located out of state) and you might be entitled to compensation.

Don’t wait — the longer you wait to contact us, the harder it may be to win your case and recover the compensation you need and deserve.

Justice Counts for victims of truck accidents. Please call us today and let’s talk.

 


*** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, and the Litigator Award, please visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.

*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.