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Who Regulates the Trucking Industry for Driver Safety?

Because truck accidents can be so deadly, there are rules and regulations to monitor the truck drivers, truck owners and the trucks. Here are some of the ways the trucking industry is held accountable.

Federal agencies and laws

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a division of the US Department of Transportation. The FMCSA regulates truck drivers and trucks. They have specific rules for how often drivers can drive and the types of places they can drive. They even have a different lower level for Driving under the Influence than state laws. They also regulate the width, weight and length of trucks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also a US Department of Transportation Division. It sets rules for motor vehicle performance with the aim of creating safer roads.

State laws

Both Virginia and North Carolina have rules that regulate motor vehicle performance while the motor vehicle is in the state. These rules also include specific rules for trucks and truck drivers.

The Public

The best way the public can hold the truck drivers and owners who caused an accident accountable is to make them pay money. Lawsuits and legal claims for damages help the victims of an accident recover and restart their lives. They also send a message, through the amount of the award or settlement, that the trucking industry needs to prevent accidents from happening beforehand by way of proper safety enforcement and driver training.

An experienced trucking industry lawyer will know which rules apply. A key factor as to which rules apply is what type of vehicle is being driven, the gross weight of the vehicle, and whether the vehicle is engaged in interstate commerce.

How Our Firm Can Help

Anyone who has been in a commercial truck accident, such as with an 18-Wheeler, in Norfolk, or who knows someone who was killed in a truck accident because of the negligence of the truck driver and/or trucking company, needs to have legal help. Contact a Norfolk truck accident attorney from Joe Miller Law, today at (888) 694-1671 for more information on how to proceed, how to work with your doctors, and what your legal rights and options are in this situation.

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If you are looking at this site, you or a loved one has probably been hurt. If that's true, you've come to the right place. Helping people who have been hurt is what we do. In fact, it is all we do. Joe Miller Law is a law firm concentrating exclusively on representing people who are injured by the carelessness of others or those hurt on the job. We provide the highest quality legal services to people who have been seriously injured. We practice Personal Injury law and Workmens' Compensation law in both Virginia and North Carolina.