To Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Firm, Contact E&L, LLP, at 213-213-0000

Truck Drivers Must Abide by Federal Regulations

Commercial trucks such as 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and big rigs can easily weigh 20 times what an average passenger vehicle weighs. For this reason, truck drivers carry an additional level of responsibility and liability. In fact, all truck drivers must abide by the regulations set out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

All commercial truck drivers are required to observe the following federal trucking regulations, and more:

• Truck drivers may not drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.04%
• Commercial drivers may not drink alcohol up to four hours prior to driving
• Truck drivers must be older than 21 and demonstrate an ability to drive safely
• Truck drivers must inspect their vehicles’ loads at regular intervals
• Truck drivers must exercise extreme caution or stop driving in dangerous weather
• Truck drivers must take regular rest breaks at scheduled times
• Trust drivers may not log more than a certain number of hours
• Truck companies must schedule reasonable unloading times

Far too many truck drivers choose to ignore these regulations in order to maximize their efficiency, and far too many trucking companies push their drivers to ignore these regulations in an attempt to maximize their profits. When these actions result in a serious truck crash, injured victims deserve the chance to take their case to court.

At E&L, LLP, our truck accident lawyers understand what it takes to secure maximum compensation. Let us help you navigate the legal process.

How to establish fault after a truck accident

In the aftermath of an accident, things can get complicated. Accident scenes change quickly, vital evidence can disappear, and witnesses’ memories become fuzzy.

For this reason, it is critical that you reach out to an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as you have been injured. E&L, LLP, can move quickly to preserve evidence, speak to witnesses, and deal with the insurance adjusters on your behalf.

After a truck accident, our firm can:

• Interview witnesses about their recollection of the accident
• Obtain the driver’s logs and trucking company records
• Keep the truck from being repaired so that it can be inspected
• Preserve the truck’s electronic on-board recorder data
• Obtain a copy of the truck driver’s driving history
• Inspect all maintenance and inspection records for the truck
• Examine and document the scene of your truck accident

In accident claims involving semi-trucks and big rigs, there are usually several defendants with an interest in blaming one another, as well as denying their own fault.

Much of the hard work in truck accident litigation involves sorting through the evidence to match particular instances of negligence with the roles played by:

• Truck owners
• Trucking companies
• Lessee or lessors
• Employee drivers
• Independent contractors
• Independent owner-operators

In most cases, the starting point for an investigation is the truck driver’s own negligence. Additionally, we make sure to consider the role of design and manufacturing defects to further expand the possible sources of recovery. Our firm looks at all possible angles.

To Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Firm, Contact E&L LLP, at 213-213-0000

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

We not only look to establish the negligence of the driver, but also consider other possible factors that may have contributed to a trucking accident.

We work with trucking industry experts, accident reconstructionists, and highway safety engineers to investigate and present evidence of negligence, such as:

• Alcohol or drug use
• Speeding or reckless driving
• Driver fatigue or excessive hours of service
• Unsafe operation under the conditions of weather, visibility or grade
• Falsified driver’s logs, inspection logs, or maintenance records
• Moving violations such as tailgating or improper lane changes
• Other distractions such as texting while driving

Brake Failure

Truck drivers and trucking companies need to ensure their vehicles are in proper working order. Failure to do so could lead to serious mechanical failure. Trucks already require a considerable amount of road to come to a complete stop in the best of situations, so when their brakes fail to work, a catastrophic accident can and often does, result.

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknife accidents can be caused by any number of factors, including equipment failure, a negligent driver, poor weather conditions, road surface conditions, and more. One of the most dangerous aspects of jackknife accidents is the risk of secondary collisions.

Truck Driver Cellphone Use

Using a cellphone while behind the wheel is dangerous no matter what vehicle the negligent driver is operating, but the danger increases exponentially when they’re used behind the wheel of a massive truck. The FMCSA looked into the use of cell phones by truck drivers and found that the risk of a driver being involved in a “safety-critical event” increased by 600 percent when the driver was distracted by a cell phone.

Truck Tire Blowouts

Truck tires need to be regularly inspected to ensure they remain in proper working order. While they are designed to last for years, it only takes one failure to cause a serious accident. Some common issues include overinflation, underinflation, and wear and tear. Overloaded vehicles and poor road conditions can also cause a tire to burst.

Entrust Your Case to E&l, Llp

E&L, LLP, has cultivated attorneys who are prepared to represent plaintiffs in complex personal injury, product liability, and car accident cases. If you have questions about your rights and options following an automobile defect, our team is readily available to help.

If you have been injured, contact our personal injury attorney at E&L, LLP, by calling 213-213-0000, for a free case evaluation and consultation.

You don’t pay until we win!  That’s our guarantee.