Truck drivers and motor carriers are subject to many rules and regulations. Truck drivers, for example, must not exceed certain driving times and must log hours driven as well as rest periods. They must check their trucks regularly to ensure that the trucks are safe. Motor carriers must carefully choose, train, and screen the truck drivers they hire and must not permit overloaded trucks on the roads.
New laws are passed each year regarding hours of service and other rules that truck companies and drivers must follow. However, truck accidents in Hollywood and other communities continue to be an issue and continue to cause many fatalities as well as many injuries each year.
Why do the laws not seem to be enough?
Unfortunately, despite the rules, attempted enforcement and the penalties for rule violations, some truck drivers and motor carriers not only violate the laws and rules, but go out of their way to do so. In many cases, the incentive is financial. For example, some truck carriers and truck drivers continue to overload their trucks past what is permitted by law. They may take back roads in order to avoid scales and weighing stations. They may also falsify documents in order to make it appear that a truck is within legal weight limits. In many cases, it is simply less expensive for motor carriers to send out trucks that exceed weight limits rather than sending out multiple trucks.
Some truck carriers and drivers also ignore rules regarding falling debris and cargo from trucks. Truck drivers should stop when they see cargo falling from their truck but they do not always notice. In some cases, truck drivers simply wait for municipalities to clean up the mess. If a truck driver has been negligent in securing the cargo and in stopping when they notice falling cargo from their truck, the truck driver and the motor carrier can be held liable if someone is injured in car accident in Hollywood because of the falling debris.
A common rule that is violated concerns hours of service limits. Truckers are required to get a certain amount of rest every day, have limits on how long they can drive before rest, and must meet other rules as well in order to keep everyone on the roads safe. When truckers or motor carriers fail to obey state rules, serious accidents and injuries are the result.
A careful investigation by a personal injury attorney in Hollywood or your community may determine that the at-fault truck was overweight or was breaking other rules. If the attorney finds that violating trucking rules led to a tire blowout or other dangerous situation that led to your accident, you may have a legal claim under Florida law and you may be able to pursue compensation to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
If you have been injured in a truck accident anywhere in South Florida and think that negligence played a role in your injuries or accident, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. If you have been injured through no fault of your own, the attorneys at Flaxman Law Group can help advise you of your legal rights and can aggressively pursue your case if you decide to seek compensation.