How Does the Federal Government Regulate Truck Safety?
Chicago Injury Lawyers: Federal Trucking Regulations
During 2006 in the U.S., 4,995 people died in accidents involving large trucks. Another 106,000 people were injured in truck wrecks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many of those accidents could have been prevented had the trucks and truckers involved been in compliance with federal trucking regulations.
In order to reduce truck-related crashes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration establishes and enforces federal trucking regulations involving:
- Testing for alcohol, drugs and controlled substances
- Commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements
- Insurance requirements
- Qualification of drivers
- Parts and accessories needed for safe operation
- Hours of service
- Inspection, repair and maintenance
- Transportation of hazardous materials
At Lane Brown, LLC, our attorneys keep all state and federal trucking regulations in mind as we review and investigate your case.
For example, we will look for evidence that the truck driver involved in the accident had been driving for longer than 11 hours or had not had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before beginning to drive on the day of the accident.
Maximizing Compensation Through Punitive Damages
If the truck, the truck driver or the truck owner was not in compliance with regulations, we will seek punitive damages against the responsible party. Punitive damages are designed to punish those responsible for causing harm while compensatory damages compensate the injury victim for damages.
Lawyers who are unfamiliar with federal trucking regulations may miss this opportunity to significantly increase the amount of compensation the client receives.
Helping Prove Negligence
A clear understanding of state and federal trucking regulations also helps us prove negligence on the part of the defendant. Failure to comply with established regulations is clearly negligent.
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a truck accident, you can trust the attorneys of Lane Brown, LLC for effective legal representation in complex truck accident claims. Please contact us today to discuss your case. The initial consultation is free of charge.
From our offices in Chicago, we represent clients injured in truck accidents throughout Illinois.
