The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established by the Department of Transportation in 2000. Its primary purpose is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. By publishing safety regulations all trucking companies are legally obligated to follow. These laws cover many different topics.
For example, the FMCSA created a table summarizing the hours-of-service regulations for property-carrying and passenger-carrying drivers. Hours of service were established to prevent trucking companies from overworking their drivers. Some truck drivers used to drive longer than 15 hours straight, which would contribute to driver fatigue (something just as dangerous as drunk driving).
Likewise, the FMCSA created weight restrictions that prevent trucks from carrying more than 80,000 pounds of cargo without a special permit. Weight restrictions prevent the roads from wear-and-tear in addition to preventing large vehicles from being more accident prone. The more massive a truck is, the less control the driver has over it, particularly if it’s unbalanced cargo.
FMCSA regulations also require trucks to be regularly maintained to prevent it from breaking down in the middle of a drive and requires trucking companies to train their drivers for emergency situations adequately. One of the most dangerous people on the road is a commercial truck driver who hasn’t been taught by his or her employer how to respond to most trucking situations.
If any FMCSA regulations have been violated by truckers, trucking companies, or anyone who is obligated to follow them, they can be held liable for any accidents they caused. If you’ve been involved in an accident involving a negligent truck driver, don’t hesitate to give our Walnut Creek truck accident attorneys a call. Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook can provide you with trusted, compassionate, and reliable legal counsel. Any medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life should be the responsibility of those who acted or didn’t act through negligence or carelessness. Truck accidents can be extremely catastrophic, so we understand this may be an incredibly stressful and emotional time for you and your family. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t add to the financial burden you might already be experiencing. Let us see how we can help.
Contact us at (925) 275-5592 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.