Common Truck Driver Violations

Learn What The Most Common Trucker Violations Are

Undoubtedly there are many safe truck drivers who obey the rules of the road, but there are also plenty of drivers and trucking companies that disregard the rules and put the public at risk. What happens when a fatigued or drunk truck driver crashes into you, or a trucking company looks the other way when it knows its drivers are violating federal law?

You should not have to suffer because of a truck driver’s violations of the law. If you have been injured by a truck driver’s carelessness or a trucking company’s profits-over-safety attitude, let our Asheville lawyer at Davis Law Group handle your case. Contact attorney Brian Davis today to learn how he can help you after your truck accident. We provide high-quality legal services to victims of trucking accidents throughout western North Carolina.

Truck Accident with Car

Common Violations And Truck Driver Negligence

Our office has extensive expertise in dealing with cases involving virtually every type of trucking violation, including:

  • Working extended hours and driver fatigue. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), which are the sole safety standards that professional truck drivers and motor carriers must follow in operating commercial motor vehicles, restrict the number of hours that a truck driver can drive his rig. Unfortunately, to make a living driving a truck, it is often necessary to drive far too many hours without enough rest. This is a hazard not only to the driver who is breaking the rules, but to all other drivers on the road.
  • Fraudulent logbooks. In hopes of trying to outwit law enforcement officials, dishonest drivers may keep two sets of logbooks: one containing false information about the number of hours driven and one containing the truth.
  • Traffic violations. Traffic offenses such as speeding, improper lane change, failure to yield the right of way and running a red light occur all too often.
  • Running other vehicles off the road. Truck drivers have “bumped” or forced small cars off the road, without even realizing it!
  • Road rage. Tailgating and other aggressive driving behavior is extremely intimidating when the aggressor is driving an 18-wheel tractor-trailer.
  • Driver carelessness and negligence. A driver’s failure to pay adequate attention to the road (changing a radio station, smoking, eating, etc.) can lead to serious truck accidents.
  • Use of drugs or alcohol. Truck drivers are forbidden from using drugs or drinking alcohol.
  • Inadequate training. Trucking companies must make sure that their drivers are properly trained in safe driving techniques, safety concerns and defensive driving.
  • Unrealistic schedules and expectations. To maximize profits, trucking companies often impose unrealistic delivery deadlines that encourage drivers to hurry, despite the safety risks involved.
  • Inclement weather. We handle cases where the driver does not adjust properly to weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, wind, ice, hail and smoke.
  • Improper vehicle maintenance. Some companies will skimp on repairs or not have parts such as brakes inspected and replaced regularly.
  • Improper equipment. FMCSR regulations specify the safety equipment, including mirrors, lights, reflectors and brakes, that must be on all commercial vehicles.
  • Missing or improper underride bar. To prevent vehicles from running underneath tractor-trailer trucks, the federal regulations require all trailers to have an underride bar, which is commonly known as a “DOT bar.” These bars must be a specific width and height requirement in order to comply with the safety regulations.
  • Improper loading. Freight that is being transported by tractor-trailer must be loaded and secured in very specific manners to prevent the load from shifting during transportation.

At Davis Law Group, we know how truckers and trucking companies attempt to get around safety regulations. We thoroughly investigate all trucking accidents to uncover truck driver violations of the law. Once we find a violation, we will aggressively pursue legal action against the trucker and his company to hold them accountable and make them pay for their negligence on the road.

Common Violations And Truck Driver Negligence

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, contact Davis Law Group today via our online contact form, or call our toll-free number at 888-773-8388 to schedule a free initial consultation.

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