Your entire life can change in the blink of an eye after a trucking accident. Victims are often left with grave injuries, medical debt, and an inability to generate an income.
Filing a claim against the parties responsible for your injuries is a possibility, however. Truck accident lawsuits are based on the same standard of negligence as any other personal injury case.
Read on to learn about some of the trucking laws you should know—and contact an Austin truck accident lawyer for help with your claim.
Laws that Impact Truck Accident Lawsuits
After a truck accident, it can be difficult to prove a truck driver or someone else acted carelessly in the lead up to your accident. However, because there are many regulations involved in trucking, your truck accident lawyer could review the relevant information to look for ways to strengthen your case.
Some of the common factors in truck accidents include:
- Driver Fatigue – We all know getting behind the wheel of any vehicle when you’re tired is dangerous. In the case of truck drivers, who often work long hours, this is even more true. In order to prevent truck drivers from working around the clock and endangering others, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets a limit to the number of hours a truck driver can drive in one day. When they exceed this limit, there could be a record of doing so—proving they acted carelessly.
- Speeding/Texting/Drinking and Driving – It’s no surprise the same laws that impact all other drivers regarding speeding, driving distracted or driving drunk also apply to commercial truck drivers. When the responsible driver is known to have been doing any of the prior leading up to your accident, that information can only strengthen your truck accident claim.
- Inexperienced/Unqualified Drivers – Truck drivers have a different set of standards than regular drivers. Anyone who wants to work as a truck driver needs to hold a Commercial Drivers License. There may also be other requirements a driver must meet before they can work full-time as truck driver. When the company in charge of the shipping doesn’t fully screen their employees to ensure they meet the legal requirements, that could also be considered negligence.
- Faulty Maintenance – The logistics company that owns the truck itself is also responsible for coordinating routine maintenance to fulfill the legal requirements. Sometimes, an old or faulty part that should have been replaced in maintenance is the culprit behind an accident. When this happens, then the logistics company may also be held liable in your truck accident claim.
Regardless of the nature of the accident, an experienced truck accident lawyer can use their knowledge of relevant laws and regulations to help you strengthen your truck accident claim.
Reach Out to a Truck Accident Lawyer
Have you suffered injuries in a truck accident? A truck accident lawyer with Gibbs & Crivelli, Slingshot Law can help you secure maximum compensation.
Call 800-488-7840 for a free, no-obligation consultation or visit us online.
