As the trucker’s employer, the trucking company (also known as a carrier) may bear legal responsibility for the truck drivers’ actions, as well as for the safety of the trucks it owns. A car in a wreck with a commercial truck can be devastating for those in the car. If you are fortunate enough to survive you may deal with severe injuries that could require long-term care. The long-term care can be very expensive. The legal action against the truck driver may not provide victims and their families with enough compensation to cover the expenses. In many cases, the company that owns the truck bears some responsibility and liability for the accident. These trucking companies must comply with state and federal laws to keep everyone on the road safe. If they violate these laws, then they can be held liable. A few of these laws are listed below.
What Is A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)?
A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a driver’s license that is required to operate large, heavy, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in the United States in commerce. There are several different types of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) that require a driver to hold a valid commercial driver’s license. Drivers need to have the appropriate license to operate the truck they’re driving.
Quality Management Focused On Maintenance And Repair
FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is the lead federal government agency responsible for regulating and providing safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), including more than 500,000 commercial trucking companies, more than 4,000 interstate bus companies, and more than four million commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. Companies need to abide by the laws. If a commercial truck has not undergone regular maintenance and check-ups or does not have the proper safety equipment and causes a crash, the company that owns the truck is held liable.
Why Must Trucks Have Weight Restrictions?
There are a few reasons that trucks have weight limitations on roads and need to be properly weighed. The main reason is safety. The maximum tandem axle weight is the weight allowed on any tandem axle. Most weigh stations force drivers to “shut down” their operation if a truck weighs more than 6,000 pounds over maximum gross weight. The maximum weight of the cargo on a truck is based on its size. A truck that is over its weight limit or not weighted as required can be a liability for the truck owner.
In nearly all truck accidents resulting in injury or significant material damage, it is worth getting a lawyer to help with your accident claim. This is especially true if your car accident resulted in serious and/or debilitating bodily injury. Keep in mind that hiring a lawyer does not mean going to court. A good lawyer will make it easy for you to understand what they will do to help you with your case.
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About Grubbs & Landry
At Grubbs & Landry, PLLC, we are dedicated to personal and friendly service. We manage our practice in an ethical, cost-effective manner to best help our clients resolve their legal issues with the least expense possible. We pride ourselves in advocating for our client in divorce, child custody, and child support matters as well as other family law matters. We are active in prosecuting personal injury cases-recovering for the injuries our clients sustain due to the negligence of others. Additionally, we help our clients prepare for the future through the preparation of Wills, Power of Attorney and Living Will.