Trucking Regulation Violations That Cause Accidents in Long Beach
Truck drivers, truck companies, those who provide maintenance on these vehicles, and those who load them have to follow specific rules and requirements to ensure that their road-ways actions are as safe as possible. Various factors contribute to injuries from truck accidents, and a Long Beach truck accident lawyer from Harting Simkins & Ryan LLP can assist with your case.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the following are some of the most common violations that lead to accidents.
Moving Violations
Moving violations are one of the most common causes of truck accidents. This involves accidents related to:
- Speeding
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Improper lane changes
- Reckless driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper turns
- Railroad grade crossing violations
- Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light
Operational Errors
Other accidents are brought on by a driver’s mistake. Some of the most common include:
- Not using hazard warning flashers when necessary
- Using a hand-held device while operating a commercial motor vehicle, such as a phone
- Failing to use a seat belt
- Driver intoxication or impairment behind the wheel
- Texting and driving
If a truck driver engages in any of these actions, they could be liable for any injuries they cause to others. Yet, other factors can also play a role.
Hours of Service Violations
Truck companies and truck drivers are responsible for ensuring everyone on the road with them is safe, and to do that, they must ensure their drivers are operating at their best. The Hours of Service Regulations put in place by the federal government aim to minimize those risks. They include:
- Drivers may drive no more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.
- Drivers must take a full 30-minute break when they have to drive for a period of 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption.
- A driver may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days, and a driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
- In situations where there are adverse driving conditions, drivers can extend the 11-hour maximum driving limit and 14-hour driving window by up to 2 hours.
Additional factors may apply if the truck driver is operating a vehicle with passengers.
Other Rules Apply
Also note that in addition to Hours of Service laws, drivers and trucking companies are responsible for maintaining their vehicles. If a vehicle is unsafe to drive, it should not be on the road. If a driver is injured or otherwise unable to remain focused on the road, that driver should not operate a vehicle. Cargo must be loaded according to very specific standards as well. If you were injured in an accident in which any of these violations occurred, our Long Beach delivery truck lawyer will help investigate the incident.
Getting Legal Help After a Truck Accident
These common trucking regulation violations can lead to an accident because they take the driver’s attention and ability off the road. At Harting, Simkins, and Ryan, LLP, our Long Beach injury lawyer is consistently working to support victims in recovering fair compensation when they are hurt due to the negligence of others. Seek out a free consultation with us to learn more.