Texas Truck Safety and Regulations

Commercial Trucking Regulations to Prevent Accidents

Commercial truck safety is a significant concern for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). With the increased risk of injury or death during a truck accident, legal compliance regulations for the truck industry are tight, and for good reason. In 2018, Texas alone had 37,515 commercial vehicle crashes, 536 of them fatal.

The training and regulatory practices for truck drivers differ from passenger vehicle drivers. When fully loaded, an 18-wheeler weighs upwards of 80,000 pounds. State and federal laws manage the operation of these big rigs to protect the public. The laws regarding these vehicles and their operation are immense and typically require the help of an experienced West Houston truck collision law firm to navigate.

Commercial Truck Regulations and their Categories

In the United States, some trucking regulations include:

• Being 21 or above
• Having a CDL
• Carrying commercial insurance
• Speaking and understanding English
• Logging driving time
• Not being under the influence when driving
• Mandated rest periods during long drives
• A properly maintained truck

Despite their efficiency, violations of commercial truck safety regulations are frequent. When an accident occurs, insurance companies search for the accident’s cause to determine who is at fault. If the truck driver is at fault, the insurance company does its best to reduce its payout expense.

Why Do So Many Truck Accidents Happen?

Texas has several dangerous highways. Yet it is not the highways alone that cause truck wrecks and crashes. Lack of compliance with commercial truck safety regulations leads to unnecessary injury, death, or property damage.

The most common reasons for accidents are preventable and are the result of driver error or negligence. That includes driving while knowingly tired, which leads to accidents when a driver drifts off at the wheel. Another reason is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Other times, truck drivers know that their vehicle is not in the best shape. However, they drive the vehicle anyway, increasing the likelihood of an accident or breakdown. New truck drivers with little experience may not have the right training to take on particular jobs.

If commercial truck drivers or their employers violate Texas truck safety regulations, they are liable to pay damages. Victims of commercial truck accidents often have medical bills and several other expenses due to the accident. Our accident lawyers at The Stephens Law Firm are experts in legal cases involving commercial truck accidents. We will thoroughly investigate your case to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Our legal experts identify the cause and determine whether the truck driver is at fault due to negligence or lack of compliance. If you were part of a commercial vehicle accident, call an automobile accident law firm in West Houston that’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Types of Trucking Accidents We Handle in West Houston and Across Texas:

• Jackknife Accidents
• Truck Rollovers
• Tire Blowouts
• Truck Driver DWI
• Wide Turn Accidents
• Blind Spot Accidents
• Read End Accidents
• Brake Failure
• Underride Accidents
• Lost Load Accidents
• Head-on Collisions
• T-Bone Collisions

West Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

You Need an Experienced Truck Accident Law Firm

When your case requires the skill and knowledge of a winning big truck accident lawyer in Texas, Joe Stephens is the expert you’re looking to hire. Having tried over 100 cases to a successful verdict, he has a solid reputation for stalwart representation for his clients, including cases in which death is involved, if that’s been your case with a loved one, contact a top-rated death lawyer in West Houston right now. Cases involving commercial truck wrecks can be very complex and present difficulty proving negligence of the truck driver, the trucking company, or both. Joe’s experience with these cases allows him to get right to the heart of the matter, his clients’ rights and owed compensation.