When a large vehicle such as an 18-wheeler or other transport truck causes an accident, the results are often catastrophic for both the trucker and any other cars involved. When severe damage and injuries or even death occur as a result of the accident, we may wonder if the truck driver will have their commercial driver’s license (CDL) suspended or revoked or if no such penalty will happen. The quick answer is: it depends. Each truck crash is different, and CDL revocation depends on the details of the [...]
Attorney Kevin Coluccio recently drafted “Duties & Responsibilities of Route Planning.” The article was published in the latest edition of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) newsletter. It discusses the duties and responsibilities of route planning for motor carriers and commercial drivers in the context of truck accidents. “Before beginning any journey, the commercial driver must approach their trip with the primary goal of the safe operation of their equipment and public safety.” In the article, Kevin emphasizes the importance of pre-planning routes to ensure safety and [...]
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 543,061 motor carriers operating both intrastate and interstate in Dec. 2017. While some of these trucking companies are small operations with only a handful of trucks working in a limited area, others employ hundreds of thousands of drivers to transport goods all over the country. Some trucking companies place a greater emphasis on safety than others. Motor carriers that have a high number of crashes may be less likely to engage critically in important safety practices, like [...]
Most of us readily recognize the term "interstate" as describing a fast-speed roadway that is free of traffic signals and riddled with exits for different stops along the way that connects one state to another. However, according to the title of this piece, you saw where the term interstate is used to describe a type of trucking in contrast with "intrastate" trucking. Interstate trucking describes any crossing of state or international borders. In contrast, intrastate trucking refers to a trucker who keeps within a specific state's borders, which [...]
Filing suit against fleet companies after a crash used to be complex yet easily handled by skilled attorneys. However, some states are making it increasingly harder for drivers to file lawsuits against trucking companies following crashes. Trucking industry lobbyists in states like Iowa, Montana, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Florida have already been successful in passing new laws limiting truck crash victims' rights to sue trucking companies after collisions. While the lobbyists' efforts haven't altogether limited a victim’s ability to file lawsuits yet, it has resulted in caps being [...]
Underride crashes are among the most dangerous types of truck collisions. When a vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian slides underneath the body of a truck, the chances of death are shockingly high. So why did officials reject DOT’s side guard recommendations to make large trucks safer? Unfortunately, trucking industry pressure reshaped and toned down what could have been one of the most effective safety advances in recent years. Let's examine the history and impact of failed underride guard legislation in the United States. (more…)
Did you know that truck accidents are extremely rare—almost unheard of? What we mean is that truck “accidents” are extremely rare. Almost every truck crash that happens is preventable. It’s not an accident at all. It’s the consequence of negligence. And one of the most common forms of negligence in the trucking industry is federal law violations. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) creates and enforces a wide system of rules and regulations governing all aspects of the commercial trucking sector. When even [...]
