The commercial trucking industry provides a crucial service, transporting goods, hazmat material, and other cargo around the country. However, heavy commercial vehicles, such as 18-wheelers, often cause catastrophic crashes due to their massive size and weight.
Truckers must undergo extensive training and adhere to strict regulations while traveling or risk losing their commercial driver’s license. If you were in a crash with a negligent trucker, you must hold them responsible for their dangerous actions with assistance from a hard-working personal injury attorney. Contact a Lebanon truck accident lawyer today to learn more.
Truck drivers must complete extensive classroom and behind-the-wheel training to operate their vehicles safely and avoid accidents. Even so, motorists should also take precautions while traveling near 18-wheelers to prevent crashes, and those include:
When truckers operate semi-trucks erratically or drive aggressively, others around them may report the operator to the company that employs them or the local authorities. During a free consultation, a Lebanon truck crash attorney at A.W. Smith Law could answer questions about highway safety and industry regulations.
The state highway patrol regulates commercial trucks traveling through the state to prevent crashes and promote roadway safety. Commercial truck drivers must meet the qualifications provided by state and federal regulations. Truckers are also subject to mandatory random alcohol and drug testing and additional testing after accidents or arrests for suspicion of driving while under the influence.
Under the Revised Statutes of Missouri § 304.017, following too closely, also called tailgating, is unlawful. All motorists, including truck operators, must maintain a safe following distance while traveling on state roadways. There must be sufficient space for others traveling near them to overtake or pass safely.
The state mandates specific speed limits for heavy commercial trucks, and operators must adhere to the posted traffic signs when traveling in or around the state. State laws require that heavy commercial trucks undergo systematic maintenance and inspections to ensure they are safe and meet the maximum weight limitations. The highway patrol has the authority to stop and inspect 18-wheelers as needed.
Trucker fatigue is a roadway safety hazard, so federal and state laws strictly regulate the maximum driving time for operators.
The state adheres to the federal Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules, requiring operators to record their service hours accurately. A truck collision lawyer at A.W. Smith Law in Lebanon has experience working with the industry and knows which records to request to determine compliance with federal and state laws.
Collisions between semi-trucks and much smaller cars are usually severe and can have devastating consequences for everyone involved. Personal injury laws allow you to pursue compensation when they happen because of non-compliant truckers or their employers.
Speak with a Lebanon truck accident lawyer for more information or help with a case. Contact A.W. Smith Law today to schedule a free consultation and learn about our offer to clients to take on your case on a contingency basis.
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