For most, passing a semi-truck on the highway is a pretty intimidating experience simply due to the truck’s massive size and weight. The apprehension is understandable since truck accidents tend to be very serious.
To help combat trucking accidents, federal agencies have created rules and regulations that all commercial truckers must follow. Violating federal trucking regulations is not only considered negligent, but also extremely dangerous. If truck accident does occur as a result of federal trucking regulation violations, the injured motorist may be able to file a claim for compensation.
Important Federal Trucking Regulations
Several agencies work together to ensure roadway safety. Specifically, the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the National Highway Safety Administration all help create federal trucking regulations.
Some of the most important federal trucking regulations include:
- Hours of service regulations imposes a 14-hour rule that limits a trucker’s driving time to a maximum of 11 consecutive hours over a 14-hour period (with 3 hours required “off-duty” time) and then a full 10-hour break after 14 hours.
- “On Duty” time is limited to 70 hours per week maximum.
- Verification of truck driver qualifications is required.
- The DOT has drug and alcohol testing requirements both to get licensed and following accidents.
- The DOT requires physicals every two years for truck drivers.
- New fuel efficiency standards are required from time to time on vehicles.
- Entry-level driver training education is required.
Experts believe that driver fatigue plays a role in about 30 to 40 percent of all truck accidents. For this reason, the government has made strides to ensure that truckers only work specific hours and take mandatory breaks.
Why Do Trucking Regulations Exist?
Trucking regulations exist for multiple reasons, but most importantly, they serve to protect truck drivers and others on the road. Before federal trucking regulations were put in place, trucking companies were incentivized to push their truck drivers to work past their limits in order to meet unrealistic quotas and shipping deadlines.
Truck Accident Liability: What if Breaking Regulations Causes a Crash?
Unfortunately, some shipping companies still try to cut corners and disregard certain trucking regulations to maximize their profits. When these actions lead to otherwise avoidable truck accidents, the companies in violation of federal regulations may be held responsible through civil litigation.
Civil laws consider a violation of these trucking regulations as a form of negligence. By law, truckers (or their employers) whose negligence causes a crash are legally responsible for the subsequent losses.
When to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one recently experienced a truck accident and you suspect that federal regulations may have been broken, it might be in your best interests to consult with a truck accident attorney. It is advisable to hire a lawyer if you are experiencing a windfall of losses after a trucking collision.
An attorney can help you identify the losses you have endured, as well as what may have caused the crash and who might be legally responsible. If your truck accident attorney believes you have grounds to file a claim on the basis of potential federal trucking regulation violations, they can help you throughout the process.
When Federal Trucking Regulation Violations Lead to an Accident
When a truck driver or their employer violates federal trucking regulations and causes an accident, it may constitute negligence. Whoever was negligent will likely be held financially responsible for any fallout the accident causes.
Considering that the losses associated with a truck accident are often substantial, it is crucial to identify whether negligence played a role in your crash.
If you suspect that federal trucking regulation violations may have contributed to your truck accident, consider scheduling a case evaluation at Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. to learn more about your legal options moving forward.
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