Truck Accidents

One difference is the size of the tractor-trailer relative to a passenger vehicle. The enormous size of a tractor-trailer increases the likelihood of serious injury when these two types of vehicles collide. Collisions between two passenger vehicles can be devastating enough, add the weight and composition of a tractor-trailer to the equation, and the results can be even more catastrophic.

Commercial drivers are professional drivers, and the law imposes additional requirements upon them to maintain their commercial driver’s license. Although they drive for a living, operators of tractor-trailers can make a mistake like anyone else. Unfortunately, when they make a mistake, the consequences can be severe.

Because of the potential for serious harm in the event of an accident, the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, imposes additional requirements on commercial drivers and the companies who operate commercial vehicles across the country. The legal issues can become complicated when you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle. For instance, the company that owns the commercial vehicle may not be located in your state, and the driver may not be a resident of your state.

At the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, P.C., we have offices located throughout the region to ensure that you have access to your lawyer when you need us. We serve our clients from locations in Hickory, Charlotte, Greenville, Rock Hill, and Columbia. So, whether you need us in the mountains near Asheville or somewhere near the Carolinas coast, we have an office nearby to assist you best.

As always, our attorneys work together with our professional staff to obtain the best outcome on your behalf. We make it our job to know the Federal Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations to best represent you if you are involved in a trucking accident. It is not enough to be familiar with the ordinary rules of the road. An experienced attorney will know how to assess additional liability when a driver operates beyond the Hours of Service requirements that apply to commercial drivers or the required inspection, repair, and maintenance provisions that apply.

While many additional provisions apply to a commercial driver, one area that can harm others is the failure to timely or adequately warn other motorists when a commercial vehicle is stopped along the roadway. It would be best if you had a lawyer familiar with the rules as they apply to commercial vehicles and the driver’s responsibility to warn others who approach a stopped commercial vehicle on the roadway.