Truck Driver Federal Regulations
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Virginia Truck Accident Attorney
Truck Driver Federal Regulations in VA are confusing to keep straight. Virginia Truck Accident Attorney Michael Strong will address any injury and fight for your full recovery.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are tasked to keep the highways safe for all drivers, whether they be in small sedans or massive 18-wheelers. In particular, commercial trucks are heavily regulated to ensure that nothing unreasonably hazardous occurs while they are in transportation. If you have been hurt in a trucking accident, you can familiarize yourself with federal regulations for truck drivers by calling The Strong Law Firm. From there, our Northern Virginia truck accident lawyer may be able to determine whether or not a violation of federal trucking regulations was the cause.
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Regulations Created for Your Safety
In ideal conditions, the average driver can experience difficulty controlling their personal automobile. Due to the fact that commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than any other vehicle out on the highways, they can be incredibly difficult to safely control at the best of times. Truckers and their parent companies must be mindful of the rights of other motorists and follow federal trucking regulations at all times. If they do not, they could be found entirely liable for any resulting accidents.
The are the most important federal regulations for truck drivers include:
- Weight: Even the biggest commercial trucks with the largest number of axles cannot weight more than 80,000 pounds, including vehicle and cargo weight. Exceeding this amount decreases the truck driver’s control of the vehicle and increases the necessary distance for it to come to a complete stop.
- Speed: Most highways in the country have posted speed limits of 65 miles per hour, but this is for noncommercial vehicles. Semi-trucks generally must travel at 55 mph or less, depending on the roadway conditions. If a trucker chooses to speed, a resulting accident could be catastrophic.
- Schedule: A trucker’s entire job consists of driving their vehicle from state to state, sometimes over hundreds of miles in a single shift. Despite these high goals, they must not work more than 14 hours in a day, and only 11 of those hours are permitted to be actual driving time. Otherwise, they risk exhaustion, slower reaction times, and even falling asleep behind the wheel.
- Route: Depending on what a truck has as cargo, it can only travel along certain stretches of road or travel during certain times of the day. This is especially true of those that carry hazardous materials, who must stay away from suburban areas for the public’s safety.
We Pursue Compensation So You Don’t Have To
The last thing you probably want to do after being hurt in a trucking accident that was not your fault is sort through paperwork and prepare a case for the courtroom. At our law firm in Northern Virginia, we understand that you want to relax and focus on recovery. Allow our Virginia truck accident lawyer to take up your case and manage all of the troubles of litigation..
