The Duty of Truck Drivers after an Accident in Jupiter, FL

Truck drivers have specific responsibilities as drivers who share the road with the occupants of smaller and, therefore, much more vulnerable vehicles. According to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, 12 percent of all the fatalities on the roads in the U.S. occur in accidents involving trucks. In these crashes, the passengers of cars are 98 percent more likely to be killed than the truck driver. The damage an 18-wheeler or big rig—which may weigh between 10,000 and 80,000 pounds—can inflict on a 3,000 pound automobile and its occupants is devastating.

The federal government regulates truck drivers

The federal government has come to recognize the unique danger posed by commercial trucks. In an effort to assure the safe driving of truckers and to protect other drivers, it has established the following regulations:

• Sufficient screening of truck drivers, including drug tests and background checks

• Sufficient initial training and ongoing training

• Instruction in proper loading and unloading methods

• The administration of periodic drug tests

• Restriction of the number of hours a driver can work per day (6)  in a 7-day period

• The requiring of drivers to keep structured logs, take rests at certain intervals, and abide by all traffic laws

Truck drivers must cooperate after a Jupiter truck driver injury

There are also regulations and procedures in place that specify the duties of a truck driver after an accident. After a trucker injury in Jupiter, the truck driver and his company are required by law to provide proof of insurance, to cooperate with law enforcement officials, and to allow for an investigation of the above-stated  regulations.  You need an experienced truck driver injury attorney in Jupiter to help navigate through these complex issues.

A Jupiter truck driver injury attorney can help you reach a fair settlement

The skilled Jupiter trucker injury lawyers of Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, P.L. will demand access to the truck’s log—in which the driver is required to keep a structured record of driving hours, times of deliveries, and weight loads.

Our Jupiter truck driver injury lawyers will also request that the trucking company provide legal access to the training, driving, and drug testing records of the trucker. We collect evidence at the scene of the accident, work with experts to understand the cause of the accident, and file claims against the responsible parties. 

Given the unique dangers posed by large trucks, and the seriousness of trucker injuries in Jupiter and elsewhere, commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to follow not only all traffic laws, but all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.

If  you or a loved one has been involved in or has questions about a trucking accident, please call the Law Office of  Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, P.L. at 561.622.0622, or send an e-mail to info@injuryattorneysforjustice.com. We can help obtain Jupiter trucker injury compensation.