Like any class of professionals, truckers and trucking companies operate under a set of federal and state regulations. These regulations determine many different things, from the amount of hours truckers can drive consecutively to how much certain rigs can haul at one time.
These trucking regulations are important because they ensure the safety of truckers on the road, as well as the safety of other drivers. Though all
New York truck accidents are dangerous, those involving tractor-trailer trucks are especially serious.
The fatal crash rate for semi trucks is 2.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, which is more than 50 percent greater than for any other type of vehicle on the road. Tractor trailer accidents account for over 10 percent of all fatal accidents, even though trucks are far outnumbered by other vehicles.
The most prominent trucking regulations concern the truck drivers themselves. Tractor trailer trucks drivers are not allowed to drive more than fourteen hours consecutively without at least ten hours off-duty, and are not allowed to drive more than sixty hours in a seven-day period without at least a thirty-four-hour off-duty period.
Drivers are forbidden to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs such as amphetamines, and they are required not to drink within four hours of going on-duty. If a driver is overly fatigued, ill, or under the influence of any substance, they are required to pull over immediately.
Although these regulations are in place to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, many trucking companies and truck drivers blatantly disregard them. Motivated by financial incentives and overly demanding schedules, many truck drivers get behind the wheel even when it is dangerous for them to do so.
When truck drivers or trucking companies violate trucking regulations and cause a serious accident as a result, they are considered to have been negligent. Thus, the victim in the accident (or the victim’s family), is eligible to recover damages for medical bills, emotional suffering, or cases of wrongful death.
The first thing you should do if you or a loved one have been the victim of a New York truck accident is call a trusted lawyer. An experienced Long Island truck accident attorney can help you prove the trucking company's negligence in court, earning you the compensation you and your family deserve.
Call the Long Island truck accident attorneys at Rappaport, Glass, Greene, and Levine today for a free consultation on your case. You can reach us in Long Island or Manhattan toll-free at 866-639-5567.
