State and Federal Trucking Regulations
We share Florida roads with commercial trucks each day. We depend on commercial trucks to transport goods throughout the country. The trucking industry is a vital element of our national commerce.
However, commercial trucks cause catastrophic truck accidents. Other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists sustain most of the deaths and injuries from truck crashes.
Federal and state trucking regulations exist to reduce the risk of truck accidents. But, sadly, many trucking companies and commercial drivers ignore safety regulations.
The Ocala, FL truck accident lawyers of Allen Law Firm, P.A. work to hold truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for their negligence and misconduct. Our legal team has hundreds of years of experience handling truck accident cases, as well as other complex motor vehicle cases such as Ocala FedEx and UPS accidents, Ocala jackknife accidents, Ocala recreational vehicle accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bus accidents, among others.
Contact our law firm or call us at (352) 351-3258 to schedule your free consultation with one of our Ocala personal injury attorneys.
How Our Ocala Truck Accident Lawyers Help You With a Truck Accident Claim
Accident claims involving large trucks are complicated personal injury cases. These cases often involve multiple parties, federal regulations, and substantial damages. Having an experienced Ocala truck accident lawyer on your side is essential when battling large trucking companies and their insurance providers.
When you hire Allen Law Firm, P.A., you can expect us to:
- Conduct an independent truck accident investigation
- Monitor the truck accident investigation by state and federal agencies
- Work with accident reconstructionists, engineers, truck manufacturers, and other expert witnesses as needed
- Identify all parties responsible for causing the truck accident
- File insurance claims and notices of claims with all parties
- Monitor the progress of claims and filing deadlines under Florida’s statute of limitations
- File lawsuits and aggressively argue your case in court if the other parties refuse to agree to fair settlements for claims
You deserve to be compensated for the injuries, financial losses, and other damages caused by a commercial trucking accident. Call our office today to schedule your free case review with an experienced truck accident attorney in Ocala, Florida.
Federal and State Trucking Regulations and Safety Laws
Many of the regulations that apply to commercial trucking were enacted to reduce the risk of trucking accidents in the United States. Some of the essential safety regulations for the trucking industry include:
Hours of Service for Commercial Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCASA) set maximum driving limits for commercial truck drivers. The hours of service limits reduce the number of drowsy truck accidents caused by driver fatigue.
Truck drivers can only drive 11 hours after being off duty for ten continuous hours. They are limited to driving 60 hours within a seven-day period. The federal regulations require commercial drivers to take regular breaks and rest periods.
Unfortunately, many truck drivers and trucking companies ignore these rules. Instead, they falsify log books to increase profits by driving longer hours.
Lower BAC Levels for Commercial Truck Drivers
A person with a commercial driver’s license can be arrested for having a BAC of .04% or higher. The law assumes the alcohol in the driver’s system impairs their ability to operate a commercial truck at this level.
The DOT and the FMCSA also require trucking companies and truck drivers to follow mandatory alcohol and drug testing rules. Just a small amount of alcohol or drugs in a truck driver’s system could contribute to a trucking accident.
Required Truck Maintenance and Inspections
Commercial trucks are complicated motor vehicles. They require additional maintenance and inspections to ensure all systems are operating correctly. Pre-trip inspections required by federal regulations ensure that critical systems are functioning correctly.
Filing Claims for Trucking Accidents in Ocala, FL
Even with state and federal trucking regulations, truck accidents occur too often. Truck accidents cause traumatic injuries including:
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Damage to internal organs
- Paralysis and spinal cord injuries
- Severe disfigurement and scarring
- Multiple fractures and broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Severe burns and scarring
Multiple parties could be liable for a truck accident claim. The truck driver and trucking company are often responsible for the cause of the truck accident. However, shippers, loaders, truck manufacturers, repair shops, government entities, motorists, and other parties might be defendants in a truck accident lawsuit.
What Damages Could I Receive in an Ocala Truck Accident Case?
Because truck accidents cause permanent impairments, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful deaths, accident victims incur substantial damages. The types of damages in a truck accident case include:
- Past and future cost of medical care
- Ongoing nursing and personal care
- Permanent impairments, disabilities, and disfigurement
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of income, benefits, future lost wages, and decreases in earning potential
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of and enjoyment of life
Our legal team works closely with you, your doctors, financial experts, and medical experts to document the severity of your damages.
We calculate the maximum value of past and future damages to get you the best possible settlement. In court, we aggressively argue the extent of your damages to compel jury members to award substantial amounts of compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Ocala Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers
The legal team at Allen Law Firm, P.A., does not stop pursuing claims until we recover maximum compensation for your damages. We utilize all of our resources, skills, and experience to hold negligent parties liable for their conduct. We understand the relevant state and federal trucking regulations and utilize this knowledge to our advantage.
Please call our office or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our Ocala truck accident lawyers.
