Truck Accident Law – Things To Know About It
Just the previous year, the World Health Organization has released a status report when it comes to road safety. This global report included the details about how road accidents led to the loss of lives of about 1.35 million people from all over the world. 1.35 million is just too many. That said, you should know that those numbers are just rough estimates on how many people lost their lives and the non-fatal ones aren’t included yet.
There’s also the fact that many of these road accidents have involved trucks which can have devastating results. Knowing certain things are essential if you ever get involved in a truck accident. Knowing about the truck accident law in the US will help you know what to do in this kind of situation.
You’ll want to know the main authorities who are in charge
The DOT and FMCSA are the primary agencies that are responsible for the truck law regulation in the US. Each state in the US also has an individual department to ensure that truck laws are regulated. These regulations also apply to other vehicles that are used commercially.
Knowing more about the code of federal regulations is also important. Every truck owner and driver must follow these regulations at all times.
Knowing more about the truck accident law
Being in a road accident with a truck is no laughing matter. It’s crucial that you know what to do in this kind of scenario.
Here are some things that you can do when it comes to this situation:
It’s necessary to prioritize checking the truck driver’s license in this type of situation.
They must have a valid commercial driver’s license, to begin with. You’ll also want to know more about the Commercial Motor Safety Vehicle Act of 1986 for you to properly check the license that they have.
Needless to say, a driver without a commercial driver’s license is already violating the truck laws. The owner of the truck or commercial vehicle has also offended on this matter. Hiring a commercial vehicle driver who doesn’t have the right qualifications is negligence on the employer’s side. Knowing what to do means knowing these details.
Inspecting technical issues and quality control
At times, technical failure is the cause of the truck accident. That said, you should know that there are federal laws concerning this matter. The company or organization responsible for the maintenance of the trucks must be certain about their handiwork. If it’s a technical failure, you should know that the maintenance party or organization will be held liable for it. By knowing this, you’ll know what to do about the involved parties.
It’s necessary to check the hours of service
You may not know this yet, but commercial truck drivers are not allowed to go beyond a certain number of hours of driving. Some drivers in the past have been in accidents because they went beyond the recommended time of driving. Those are the things that you should know about when it comes to knowing what to do in truck accidents.