The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has enacted hundreds of regulations that trucking companies must follow. These regulations, if ignored, can result in hefty fines and even criminal charges in some cases. Trucking regulations cover everything from how much sleep drivers must get when they’re on the road, to how goods must be packed into storage trailers on the back of the trucks. These regulations have been promulgated for many reasons, but the most important and overarching reason is to keep truckers and other drivers and passengers on the roads safe.
Consequences of Unregulated Trucking
It may seem trivial, but minor requirements like weight distribution in the back of trucks and proper machine maintenance can be the difference between a safe trip and a devastating accident. Having an unbalanced trailer, for instance, can cause trailer sway such that it could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. This is only one of several ways that negligence by a trucking company, its drivers or its other employees can impact the safety of other drivers and passengers.
A lot of the debris found on the sides of highways in nearly every state is the rubber from old, blown-out tires.Tire blowout, is an all too common occurrence for negligent trucking companies, In fact, tire blowouts were responsible for over 400 fatalities in 2003, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These incidents can be avoided (or at least reduced) by checking tire pressure before starting a haul, and swapping out old tires for new ones.
Truckers must also check the latches and other trailer door mechanisms before embarking on a trip. If these goods are released on a highway while the truck is in motion, even if the truck is moving slowly, it poses a substantial risk to other vehicles. It is not uncommon for semi trucks to release a shotgun-like effect of debris on the road when they are involved in a crash, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
These are just a few examples, but it should be clear that the consequences of truck drivers and trucking companies failing to follow simple regulations can mean life-altering injuries and fatalities to other drivers and passengers across America.
If You Have Been Injured in a Trucking Accident
The police as well as state and federal agencies are responsible for investigating and pursuing criminal litigation against trucking companies who may have failed to follow state or federal regulations. However, a criminal case will not help you pay your medical bills or cover the cost of repairs. This is why it is imperative to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer to represent your interests against the trucking company and its insurers. The trucking company will fight to minimize any payout and need someone on your side fighting to ensure you get the justice you deserve.
