Special Laws and Regulations for Commercial Trucking

Commercial trucking is regulated by many specific state and federal laws. These laws regulate everything from the number of hours a driver may drive without rest, to the way in which freight is loaded into the trailer, to the types of vehicle safety equipment required for various types of trucks. If a driver or a trucking company has caused an accident by violating these laws, they may be held responsible for the injuries that result. The lawyers of Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff make it our business to know the laws that apply to every case, in every state, as well as in federal jurisdictions.

Many Different Defendants in Big Rig Accidents

When an accident is caused by a truck driver or by a problem with the truck, there are many parties that may be held responsible. Even when the truck driver, alone, carelessly caused the accident, his employer may be held responsible to pay damages to the injured.

• Sometimes the employer is responsible because it was negligent in hiring or supervising a poorly trained or inexperienced driver, because it failed to check the driving record of the driver, or because it negligently entrusted a large and powerful truck to an unqualified driver.
• Sometimes the owner of the trucking company is responsible because of failure to properly repair and maintain truck brakes and other equipment.
• The manufacturer of defective trucks or truck parts can be held responsible, if those defects caused the accident.
• Government entities can be responsible if they failed to maintain safe roadways, especially roads where large truck traffic is permitted.

Gathering Special Evidence in Trucking Accidents

Many big rig trucks have "black boxes" that keep track of important information that can help lawyers and expert engineers reconstruct the accident to determine how it happened. Truck accident lawyers know how to demand that the black box data be preserved and produced for a law suit.

Experienced truck accident lawyers know that the government keeps many records about the training, licensing, and driving activities of commercial truck drivers. These records can be the source of important evidence such as driver log books, tickets for speeding or other traffic law violations, or driver substance abuse.

Government records may also have information about maintenance and repair schedules for the truck involved in the accident, violations of truck safety equipment laws, and other safety violations by the trucking companies.

Types of Damages Recoverable in a Trucking Accident

We have recovered millions of dollars in damages, for people injured in motor vehicle accidents, including trucking accidents. Injured persons may be entitled to:

• Payment for pain and suffering
• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost earnings
• Property damage
• Emotional distress

Our attorneys have extensive experience representing individuals injured in commercial trucking accidents, in both jury trials and settlement negotiations. We are well versed in conducting thorough investigations, as well as dealing directly and firmly with trucking and insurance companies.

To contact an experienced attorney at Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff and to get a free and confidential case evaluation, please fill out and submit the contact form on this page or call us toll-free at (888) 285-3333.