The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces a complex set of rules and regulations covering all aspects of commercial vehicle operations.
In general, trucking rules and regulations focus on five key areas:
- Driver’s log – drivers must keep a written record of activities for each hour of operation
- Insurance coverage – every driver must be covered by accident insurance
- Hours of service – drivers can operate their vehicle only a certain number of hours per day
- Equipment standards – every truck must meet stringent equipment standards
- Commercial Drivers License standards – drivers must possess a valid CDL
Truck accident regulations are also part of this body of rules; should a truck accident lawsuit occur as a result of a crash, the degree to which the truck’s operator is in compliance with these rules will affect the outcome of the case. In a semi-truck accident lawsuit, the truck’s operator and/or owner must produce documented proof of compliance in these areas.
A truck accident that occurs as the result of an operator/owner’s violation of these rules is a serious injury to your rights as well as the law. Should you become involved in a truck accident lawsuit, you deserve compensation for negligence on the part of the truck operator.
By pursuing a semi truck accident lawsuit, you not only gain that compensation, you make the cost of negligence higher for trucking companies – thus increasing the level of safety for the driving public.
