Trucking Accident

Truck Driver Responsibilities

The people who drive large commercial trucks (those weighing more than 10,000 pounds) have added responsibilities to reduce the number of people injured and killed in car-truck collisions.

Federal interstate trucking regulations, as well as state and intrastate trucking regulations, govern everything from what routes trucks can drive on to how truckers are allowed to drive. For example, tractor-trailers aren’t allowed to pass on some highways. Semi-truck drivers are also required to maintain logbooks and to take required rest breaks to reduce fatigue.

However, truck drivers, who are paid by the mile, are under economic pressure to cover long distances. As a result, many falsify logbooks and drive for more hours than the law allows without a rest break (11 hours after 10 consecutive off-duty hours).
Some truckers take amphetamines to help them stay awake. Others speed, tailgate, and perform other aggressive driving maneuvers to cut time.
According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, more than one-fourth of the truck drivers who are involved in fatal crashes in had at least one prior speeding conviction. Seven percent of truck drivers had a previous license suspension or revocation. Many trucking companies negligently hire drivers with bad driving records because they want to move cargo at the cheapest possible price.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident involving a large, commercial truck, please contact our attorneys for legal assistance as soon as possible. Our lawyers will work to find out if the truck driver or the trucking company is responsible for causing the accident and, if so, seek compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future wages, pain and suffering, disability, and other damages.