Anyone who’s been on an interstate or even some city roads has likely seen semitrucks hauling goods. These vehicles are very large and incredibly heavy, especially when they’re fully loaded.
Every trucker who’s on the road has a duty to drive safely so they don’t cause catastrophic crashes involving innocent people. While many do put safety first, some work for trucking companies that have policies that make it difficult to remain safe and earn a living.
Tight deadlines are often a problem
In the race to win contracts, some trucking companies offer super fast delivery promises. While that might seem like it’s a good business practice, it often encourages truckers to drive longer hours despite being fatigued and can also encourage them to drive faster than what’s safe.
One of the most notable issues with unrealistic deadlines is that the trucker may violate the hours of service regulations that are set by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This limits truckers who are carrying goods to a maximum of 11 hours of driving in a single day before they have to take at least 10 hours off duty.
When an innocent victim is struck by a semitruck, there’s a chance that they may seek compensation for the damages they’re dealing with because of the injuries. Factors, such as speeding or violations of the hours of service may become central in that claim. It can have a role in who’s held liable for the damages and what percentage of liability they hold, so working with an individual who’s familiar with these matters is beneficial.