Fort Lauderdale FMCSA Regulations Attorney
Commercial trucking is a giant and extremely important industry in the United States. With millions of registered commercial vehicles on the roads, it is critical that this industry has strict safety standards, especially since these large vehicles have the potential to causes devastating crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as the federal agency with the power to enact and enforce a number of laws regulating the trucking industry, known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
When trucking companies or truck drivers violate any FMCSRs, they can put the public at enormous risk of accidents and injuries. If you have been involved in a truck crash, please call a Fort Lauderdale FMCSA regulations attorney at Boone & Davis so we can begin investigating your case.
FMCSRs That Often Apply to Truck Accidents
While there are hundreds of different FMCSRs, there are some whose violations are commonly involved in causing truck crashes. The following are some examples of regulations that, when violated, can cause accidents and injuries.
CDL requirements – The FMCSA sets out very strict requirements for someone to obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL). Individuals must have active knowledge of a variety of topics including:
- The regulations that must be followed when driving a commercial vehicle;
- How to operate the truck when backing up, shifting, at night, and in emergency situations;
- Required inspections of the truck;
- How cargo can affect their control of the truck;
- Driving in hazardous conditions.
Individuals must pass a written test, as well as a driving test and must be medically cleared as healthy enough to drive a truck before they can receive a CDL.
Hours of service – Fatigued driving became a huge problem in the trucking industry because drivers would spend long hours on the road – often foregoing sleep in favor of earning more money. Because of the serious risks of fatigued driving, the FMCSRs regulate the number of hours and days a driver can operate a commercial vehicle.
Adjusting driving in hazardous conditions – While a speed limit may be 60 miles per hour, driving a commercial truck at the speed limit can become exceedingly dangerous in adverse weather conditions. If a driver is experiencing snow, ice, fog, or even rain, the FMCSRs demand that they slow down and use extreme caution when driving in hazardous conditions.
Drug and alcohol testing – The FMCSRs set the legal limit for alcohol for commercial drivers at 0.04 percent blood alcohol content (BAC), which is half the legal limit for other drivers. Because of the extreme dangers of driving a commercial truck under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the regulations also require that trucking companies conduct random drug and alcohol testing on drivers and discipline any drivers who fail these tests.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale FMCSA regulations attorney today for a Free Case Evaluation
Identifying when a company or driver has violated any of the FMCSRs can be of the utmost importance in your truck accident case as it helps prove liability. At the law office of Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale, we are thoroughly familiar with all federal trucking regulations and can identify when a violation led to your injuries. If you have been injured in a truck accident, call us today at 954-566-9919 for help.
