Call Us atWe see trucks on the road around us on a regular basis, usually never stopping to think about their sheer size and weight. When a commercial truck, especially one holding cargo, collides with another vehicle, it can cause catastrophic damage. At Libbey Law Offices, we understand how physically and emotionally devastating being injured in a truck accident can be. Our Anchorage truck accident lawyers have decades of experience in the field of personal injury and can help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Our seasoned personal injury attorneys help clients with all types of trucking accidents, including:
- Semi-truck accidents
- Dump truck accidents
- Pile-ups
- Accidents involving hazardous materials
Federal Regulation Compliance in Truck Accidents
Professional drivers, especially those driving trucks and hauling cargo, are held to a higher standard of safety than any other driver on the road. The trucking agency is also held to federal regulations to ensure the safety of commercial truck drivers and other drivers.
Anchorage trucking accident lawyers handle cases involving failures to follow these federal regulations, including:
- Commercial driving license requirements
- Allowed driving hours
- Alcohol and drug use on the road
- Transportation of hazardous materials
- Driver qualifications
When they fail to follow these regulations, the likelihood of a trucking accident is significantly higher. This is why we look into the details of truck accidents, including the company’s rules for hiring and training. We may interview witnesses and question drivers about whether they were instructed to violate rules, such as their allowed number of driving hours. Our goal is to seek the maximum compensation from the party responsible for your accident.
Hours of Service Regulations to Prevent Truck Wrecks
The hours of service regulations are a set of rules laid out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which regulates how long truckers can be on the road and when they must take breaks. Since fatigued or distracted drivers are much more likely to cause an accident either by a mistake or falling asleep at the wheel, the goal of these regulations is to ensure as much as possible that drivers of commercial vehicles are well rested.
According to the hours of service regulations, truck drivers are permitted to work up to 14 hours a day, but they are only allowed to drive 11 of these hours. The remaining time is required to be used with rest or meal breaks. Once the workday is over, a trucker must rest for at least 10 consecutive hours
Additionally, truck drivers must take days off work at regular intervals. These days off are determined by the hours of the company they drive for. If a trucking company is open seven days a week a driver is only allowed to work 70 hours in an eight-day period before taking at least 34 consecutive hours off. If a trucking company is open less than seven days a week than a driver is only allowed to work 60 hours in a seven-day period before taking 34 hours off.
Who is Liable After a Truck Accident?
Since there are many parties who could potentially be held liable, determining who is held responsible for a truck accident can be a complicated process. Most often, however, the trucking company is held liable. There are many reasons for this including that they are often caught encouraging their trucker to break trucking regulations in order to help save their company money and time.
The truck driver is usually held liable if the accident was directly caused by their negligence such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol for example, they may be the one held liable. Although it happens less often, there are other parties that can be found responsible. Our Anchorage truck collision attorneys are experienced in investigating these claims and are ready to help you.
Hold the At-Fault Party Accountable with an Anchorage Truck Accident Attorney
At Libbey Law Offices, we believe that when trucking companies violate the strict regulations they are held to, it should not go unpunished. Regardless of the specific circumstances, you may have grounds for a lawsuit to recover compensation, including lost wages and medical bills. Our experienced Anchorage truck accident lawyer can help you to understand your case and determine if you qualify for damages. Should we move forward with your case, you can rely on us to build an effective plan of action for you.
Recovering proper compensation after a truck wreck without an experience attorney on your side can be difficult. Trucking companies are often backed by top-tier attorneys who are hired to protect their company, and in turn, keep you from recovering the compensation you deserve. The attorneys at Libbey Law Offices, LLC are experienced in handling truck accident claims and know what to expect during the entire process. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you.
