It is mind blowing to believe that a split-second will forever change your life. Thousands of truck collisions occur every year and change the lives of those injured dramatically. By nature, large truck collisions are destructive; a large rig is enormous and heavy. The force and effect of a tractor trailer colliding can cause serious personal injury and even death. If you are looking for more tips, read more about what a Seabrook accident attorney can do for you.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established by the federal government in response to tallying truck accident accounts. For truck companies and truck drivers to obey, the FMCSA offers standardised regulations. Furthermore, the FMCSA mandates annual checks to demonstrate that truck companies and truck drivers comply with the regulations.
One law, for instance, deals with disqualifications and fines for drivers. A commercial driver (tractor trailer driver) can, among other violations, be penalised for driving a commercial motor vehicle after disobeying severe traffic violations.
A driver may be prohibited from driving a commercial motor vehicle by the following behaviour:
- Speeding excessively- any velocity 15 mph or more above the limit set;
- Driving recklessly-including, but not limited to, motor vehicle driving offences in deliberate or intentional disregard of the safety of individuals or property;
- Making incorrect or erratic changes to the traffic lane;
- Too closely trailing the vehicle ahead;
- Breach of State or local legislation relating to traffic regulation of motor vehicles (other than infringements of parking) occurring in connexion with a fatal accident; and
- Driving a licenced motor vehicle without having a licence from a commercial driver.
FMCSA violations such as these are ignored every year, often resulting in major truck crashes that are life-threatening.
The Case of Johnson v. O.B.
For example , in the case Johnson v. O.B. The court found that a motor vehicle that caused an accident with another vehicle was in breach of 12 federal commercial vehicle regulations by Minneapolis, Inc. The collision with a truck resulted in the death of two people. In addition, the commercial vehicle in this case had allegedly undergone inspections annually, meaning that the truck company considered the truck to be in compliance with the law, when in fact it was not.
The 12 regulatory breaches were identified by accident experts working for the complainant’s counsel. The difference between a really good result for the victim of the truck accident and a poor result may have been these 12 violations. With years of experience managing truck accident cases and dealing with the FMCSA rules, a truck accident attorney would know how to do such a difficult and comprehensive job. If the lawyers of the plaintiffs did not know the ins and outs of trucking law, this case could have had a different outcome.