Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

Truck Accident Law
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The following information on truck accident law and regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is provided by Pritzker | Olsen, P.A., a premier personal injury law firm.  The firm has a national reputation and has been interviewed by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other publications.  In recognition of their achievements, Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers” by Law & Politics magazine (numerous years, including 2008). To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

What are the Truck Accident Laws and Regulations?

Semi Truck AccidentThe trucking industry is regulated by both federal and state governments.  Below, we have listed a few of the areas regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):

    1. Hours of service (the amount of time a driver can drive).  The amount of driving and off-duty time is required to be recorded in the driver’s log.  A good truck accident lawyer will analyze the driver’s log to determine if the truck driver violated FMCSA hours-of-service regulations.  The argument would be that the accident was caused by driver fatigue.
    2. Truck driver drug and alcohol use. FMCSA regulations require motor carriers to implement a successful controlled-substances-use-and-alcohol-misuse program.  This requirement is meant to prevent truck accidents caused by drunk truck drivers and drivers who are taking drugs.
    3. Driving requirements. The federal regulations outline driving rules that must be followed before a commercial vehicle under federal jurisdiction can be operated, for example, a person may not drive a commercial truck if the person is too tired, drunk, knows that the truck is not in good working order, etc.
    4. Truck driver qualifications. These regulations prohibit a motor carrier (trucking company, etc.) from permitting an unqualified person to drive a commercial truck. To be qualified, a driver must pass the required road test, have a certificate saying they are medically fit to drive a commercial vehicle, not have a record of certain criminal offenses, etc.
    5. Truck parts and accessories, including tires, brakes, etc.  FMCSA also has detailed requirements regarding parts and accessories necessary for safe operation.  If our law firm is retained by you, we will look at whether the accident was caused, even in part, by improperly maintained equipment, the lack of safety equipment or any other equipment-related question, which would include problems with tires, lights, axles, coupling devices and towing equipment, brakes, engines and other equipment.

Federal regulations require commercial trucks to carry certain levels of insurance coverage, depending on the nature of the materials hauled. These regulations protect victims of large truck crashes from truck owners who may not have the financial resources to pay damages out-of-pocket.

Also of legal significance is that truck drivers are required by federal law to maintain a driver's log.  This driver’s log is admissible evidence for a truck accident lawsuit.  If you retain our law firm to represent you, one of the first things we will do is take the legal measures necessary to obtain a copy of the driver’s log.

Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer at our law firm if you have been in a commercial truck accident.  We will work to gather any evidence of a violation of a trucking regulation and obtain just compensation for your injuries.  Please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit the free case consultation form.

      


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Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently obtained a hard-fought $2,560,000 recovery for a couple who were seriously injured in a semi-truck crash. The husband suffered serious head injury (TBI). Read about the semi truck crash settlement.

Our lawyers have recovered millions more for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation about your accident.

 

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