What are the most common causes of truck accidents caused by commercial drivers?
This FAQ focuses on common causes of major trucking accidents.
What kind of damages can I seek for truck accident injuries?
This FAQ focuses on the types of recoverable damages filed by a Virginia truck accident lawyer.
Do commercial trucks have a right-of-way superior to that of a car when travelling on public roads?
No. Commercial trucks must obey the same, and sometimes more extensive traffic laws that an average passenger vehicle does. All too often, some truck drivers take the “I’m bigger, so you must move out of my way” approach to driving, but you have an equal right to travel on the same roads that they do. Of course you should always be mindful of your safety when encountering large commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers on the road.
Are there different rules that apply to accidents involving commercial trucks?
Yes. The majority of federal regulations dealing with the trucking industry can be found within Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These federal regulations apply to commercial tractor-trailers in interstate commerce and are adopted by many states. Trucking accident lawsuits involve a variety of elements which are different from car accident cases. For example, an extremely important piece of evidence in a trucking accident case is the driver’s logs. Federal law requires truck drivers to record their driving data in a driver’s log. In a trucking accident case, a thorough examination of the log is important. The driver’s log may be used to show violations of federal hours-of-service regulations, illegal conduct and negligent conduct. The training, education, experience, traffic violations, and mental and physical status of the truck driver are all elements that should be considered in determining whether the driver and trucking company were following federal and state regulations.
About the editors: The motto at Shapiro & Appleton& Duffan law firm is simple -“All we do is injury law.” We hope you were able to find the answer to your injury query. If not, please review our Virginia Accident Lawyer FAQ Library for additional information. If you’d like to speak to an actual attorney about your potential injury claim for free, please contact our office at (833) 997-1774.
PA
Are delivery companies liable when one of their drivers causes a crash with injuries?
Companies like UPS and FedEx can be held responsible for the negligent or reckless actions of their drivers.