If you or a family member is injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler or other large commercial truck, it is important to act fast to preserve the evidence in your claim against the trucking company. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act permits trucking companies to destroy log books and other trucking records after 6 months. Critical information from computers located on the truck may be lost if it isn’t captured quickly.
6 things to know if you’re in an automobile accident
(2 min.):
If you are involved in an accident with a large commercial truck, the trucking accident attorneys at KP&M have the experience and knowledge to quickly secure all of the crucial information necessary to prove and maximize your personal injury claim against the trucking company.
A number of state and federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation impose strict regulations on truck drivers and the trucking industry, including:
Pre-vehicle safety checks
Truck and load weight/size restrictions
Limits on excessive driving hours
Use of qualified, suitable drivers
Many times, when truck drivers or trucking companies violate these regulations, a truck accident occurs and innocent people are injured. These violations commonly cause truck accidents involving:
Rollovers
Drunk and/or impaired driving
Unlicensed drivers
Speeding
Mechanical or brake failure
Head-on collisions
Reckless driving
Tire blowouts
Improper turns
Trailer detachments
Improper load shifting
Jack-knife accidents
There are about 5000 fatal trucking accidents per year nationwide. In Virginia, there are more than 100 fatal trucking accidents per year. Because of the excessive size and weight of commercial trucks, the likelihood of the trucker causing an innocent driver a devastating, life altering injury during a crash increases dramatically. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a tractor-trailer truck or other large commercial vehicle, call the truck accident attorneys at KP&M. We have over twenty years experience in truck accident cases and will help you recover what you are entitled to under the law.
