Truck Accidents Caused by the Negligent Hiring of Unqualified Truck Drivers
Standards for Hiring Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers
Employers in the commercial trucking industry are prevented by law from knowingly allowing or permitting a disqualified driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Employers are also obligated to disqualify truck drivers who violate § 383.51 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.
An employer can be held responsible for the actions of their employee if that employee was hired negligently. Anyone injured in a truck accident in the Nashville area should contact one of the experienced lawyers at the Nashville firm of Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge to find out if this might apply to your case.
Call (615) 933-2893 for a free consultation to get started.
Values That Set Our Firm Apart
Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge has over a century of combined experience helping individuals hold trucking companies responsible for hiring unsafe drivers. Our firm fights for our clients fiercely, backed by extensive trial experience and a record of success. Attorney Randy Kinnard has tried over 250 cases alone. When you need to entrust your case to a representative, we are the names you can depend on.
- Trusted Experience – Our attorneys have tried hundreds of cases, more than most firms ever do.
- Proven Success – Our firm has secured millions in record-breaking verdicts and settlements.
- Client Dedication – Our clients matter to us; they are not just case numbers.
Employer’s Duty to Reasonable & Safe Hiring Practices
As a driver, you have the right to expect reasonably safe behavior from professional truckers who share the road with you. The trucking industry tries to ensure safe driving by keeping track of truck drivers with unsafe records. However, when companies have negligent hiring practices, innocent people suffer the consequences.
As a result, Tennessee law does not only hold the driver responsible—the company may also be at fault. Discovering employer negligence is an important part of our work. If the driver who caused your injury or loss had a known record of reckless or unsafe driving, the employer is considered culpable in that driver’s actions. We make sure that every responsible party is subjected to the law for the sake of you, your loved ones, and every other driver on the road.
Obligation to Hire Drivers with Valid CDLs
Employers are required to hire truck drivers with valid commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Driving commercial semi -rucks is a weighty responsibility that requires specialized skills. As such, the federal government mandates that these drivers obtain CDL certification from their state’s licensing bureau. Once a driver has a CDL, they must maintain it. Drivers can lose their certification through serious traffic violations. Employers are obligated to monitor violations that could put their driver’s CDLs in jeopardy.
Why Hire Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge?
Our firm does not believe in shoddy, turn-and-burn legal work. We are seasoned trial lawyers who abide by our values, utilizing our experience and skill to better our clients’ lives. As a result, we have secured millions of dollars for our clients in record-breaking verdicts across the state. When you work with us, you can trust that we are able to fight for your cause—and we do it right.
Get started today by scheduling a free case consultation. Call Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge at (615) 933-2893 today.

Verdicts & Settlements
Unmatched Dedication Has Led to Record-Setting Victories-
Personal Injury - Erin Andrews Lawsuit Against Hotel $55 Million
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Medical Malpractice - 62 Year Old Woman $22.2 Million
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Medical Malpractice - Largest Verdict in Weakley County History $15.2 Million
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Medical Malpractice - Davidson County $6.5 Million
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Wrongful Death of 22 Month Old $5 Million
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Medical Malpractice - 24 Year Old College Student $4 Million
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Wrongful Death - Tractor-Trailer Wreck $3.3 Million
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Wrongful Death - 16 Year Old Boy $3 Million
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Auto Accident - Rutherford County $3 Million
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Wrongful Death & Personal Injury - Auto Accident $2.9 Million

Client Testimonials
Helping the Injured Obtain Justice
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We are very grateful.
“What Mr. Clayton achieved on account of conquering numerous hurdles was beyond remarkable and we are very grateful.”
- E.I. -
They showed compassion and grit in a professional manner like no other law firm.
“I would like to thank the law firm of Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge for helping me and my family in our time of need. If any of our friends in Clarksville need help in a legal way, this is the firm to call in Nashville.”
- P.L. & L.W. -
Love this firm!
“I was so pleased with all the help and attention to my needs. Very helpful and knowledgeable and I would recommend them to anyone.”
- Constance -
A trusted friend, part of the family.
“Mary and team did an excellent job communicating with our family throughout the entire process. She is very knowledgeable with medical malpractice and I highly recommend her in the event you or a loved one is faced with a situation such as ours.”
- N.O. -
Wonderful experience. Knowledgeable and responsive!
“Daniel spent ample time with my husband and I to walk through the process to ensure that we understood what was expected of us. Daniel and his staff were always prompt to respond and answer any questions we had.”
- D.B.
Awards & Accolades
Highly Respected in the Legal Community-
Randall Kinnard is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious invite-only group comprised of the top 100 plaintiffs’ trial lawyers in the United States.
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The firm has received the prestigious “Best Law Firms” rating in the practice areas of Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation.
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Randall Kinnard (since 1993), Daniel Clayton (since 2010), Mark Beveridge (since 2011) and Mary Ellen Morris (since 2017) have all been recognized for their legal skill and achievements.
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Randall L. Kinnard, Daniel L. Clayton and Mark S. Beveridge have been named as 2020 “Best of the Bar” by Nashville Business Journal.
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Our attorneys have been voted by their peers to the "Top 40 under 40" Trial Lawyers list, as awarded by The National Trial Lawyers organization.
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Randall Kinnard and Daniel Clayton have been voted to the list of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers organization.
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Mr. Kinnard, Mr. Clayton, and Mr. Beveridge have been voted to TN Super Lawyers®. This organization recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in their practice area.
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Our firm’s trial attorneys have been recognized among the state’s leading legal minds, and named by Business TN Magazine to its coveted “150 Best Lawyers in Tennessee” list.
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Randall Kinnard, Daniel Clayton, Mark Beveridge, and Mary Ellen Morris have received the highest rating for legal excellence by Martindale-Hubbell.
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Attorney Randall Kinnard was named the 2019 Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Nashville, TN.
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Attorney Mark Beveridge has been named a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" in Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs.
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Attorney Mark Beveridge has been named a "Lawyer of the Year" by U.S. News - Best Lawyers in Personal Injury Litigation.
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Attorney Mark Beveridge was named as "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in the area of Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs in Nashville, TN.
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Attorney Daniel Clayton was named a 2016 U.S. News - Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Nashville, TN
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Attorney Daniel Clayton was named a "Lawyer of the Year" by U.S. News - Best Lawyers in the area of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs in Nashville, TN
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Attorney Daniel Clayton was named a "Lawyer of the Year" by U.S. News - Best Lawyers in the area of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs in Nashville, TN
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Randall L. Kinnard is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invite-only honorary society comprised of less than .5% of all U.S. lawyers.
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Randall L. Kinnard is a member of the invitation-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which is limited to 500 trial lawyers in the United States.
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The firm is a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms – a society of top-rated, independent, boutique law firms committed to professional excellence.
