Truck Accident Lawyer

Foley & Small would like to share with you information about the issues and the handling of a semi tractor-trailer accident case. Foley & Small has handled many trucking accident cases and is knowledgeable and well equipped to handle such claims.

TRUCK ACCIDENT FACTS

Vehicle accidents involving semi tractor and trailers often result in devastating vehicle damage, injury and sometimes death. A typical semi tractor and trailer are approximately 8 feet wide, 13 feet tall and more than 40 feet long. A semi tractor and trailer can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. With this size and weight and at speeds of 55 mph or more, it is not surprising that more than 4,000 Americans are killed as a result of tractor trailer accidents each year and more than 110,000 are injured.

TRUCK ACCIDENT CLAIMS PROCESS

Foley & Small retains accident reconstructionists who are trained engineers schooled in determining from the physical evidence how an accident occurred. We also retain trucking experts to help us with the practical aspects of the case. These are truck driving instructors who will review the driver’s decision making and events leading to the collision, the operations of the trucking company and various driving requirements that apply to trucking companies and their drivers.

TRUCK ACCIDENT CLAIM ISSUES

Trucking accidents have significantly different issues from your typical car accident. There are more issues that arise because of the unique requirements that apply to trucking companies and their drivers. These issues include the following:

1. Trucking companies must obtain a background check on their prospective truck drivers and must obtain a driving history before the driver can be hired.
    
2. Once hired, the trucking company must monitor the driving history of the driver, both for traffic offenses and for accidents.
    
3. There are inspection requirements for both the semi-tractor and for the trailer to insure they are mechanically sound.
    
4. Truck drivers must pass a driving test and obtain a special driver’s license called a commercial driver’s license, or CDL, and with it must obtain a physical on a regular basis to insure the driver is healthy.
    
5. Regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation restrict the number of hours a driver can drive. These regulations also require the driver maintain a driver’s log and monitor their sleep, driving time and off-duty time. Drivers must maintain an expense log which can be of help to track the driver’s hours of driving, location and speed.
    
6. Many trucking companies today utilize satellite monitoring to track the location of their truck units. This information can be helpful to us, again, for determining the location, speed and verify driving hours.

These are just some of the issues that are unique to a driving case.

DOT – TRUCKING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Trucking companies are also required under DOT regulations to maintain insurance coverage for their trucking operations. This includes a requirement to have in place a $1,000,000.00 liability policy. This insurance coverage requirement is much higher than that seen for automobiles and pickup trucks. This is not surprising in light of the damage and injury that can be caused by an 80,000 lb vehicle traveling 55 or more mph.

CONTACT FOLEY & SMALL

At Foley & Small, we are here to help you and your family should you ever be confronted with an accident caused by a semi tractor trailer. Put our experience and resources to work for you and your family.

Click on the link at the top right of this page for a live chat with a member of our staff or email us from our Contact page. You can also call us at 800-276-2525. Thanks again for contacting us at Foley & Small.