TRUCKING ACCIDENTS

FMCSA Violation Truck Accidents in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs FMCSA Violation Truck Accident Law Firm

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors the trucking business in the United States. The FMCSA was established in 1999 due to efforts to improve the safety of commercial transportation via the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. It is responsible for developing safety initiatives, investigating traffic accidents, and policing motor carriers.

For trucking firms and their workers to obey, the FMCSA has hundreds of rules, regulations, and standards. Any of these guidelines that are broken might result in catastrophic truck accidents. Our Colorado Spring struck collision lawyer can assist you if you were a truck accident victim caused by an FMCSA violation.

Service Hour Rules

The FMCSA has hours-of-service standards that limit how long commercial drivers may operate cars at one time. Long periods of driving without rest breaks might raise the risk of a truck driver falling asleep behind the wheel. According to the National Safety Council, drowsy driving is just as deadly as drunk driving. Hours-of-service limitations may avoid drowsy driving accidents.

According to the law, property-carrying drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours after ten straight hours off-duty, nor for more than 14 hours after returning to duty.

Commercial drivers are only allowed to run their cars if it has been less than 8 hours since their previous 30-minute break. No driver may operate a car after 60 hours on duty in seven days or 70 hours in eight days. There are few exceptions to these standards, but property-carrying drivers must follow them for the most part.

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Requirements for Truck Maintenance

Trucking businesses are responsible for keeping their cars and fleets in good working order. Regular inspections, records of equipment testing, assuring proper braking capabilities, and confirming that cars do not exceed weight limitations are all part of the FMCSA’s truck maintenance standards.

Failure to comply with maintenance regulations may result in a truck that is not roadworthy. Breakdowns in equipment and component failures might result in major truck accidents.

Procedures for Hiring and Training

The trucking firm also must thoroughly screen and performs background checks on the drivers it employs. To guarantee the reasonable safety of their drivers, trucking businesses must maintain safe and proper recruiting practices. Before enabling drivers to carry cargo alone, they must also provide sufficient truck driver training. Truck drivers should have current and active commercial driver’s license and extra training unique to the trucking firm. Hiring untrained, risky, irresponsible, or inadequately trained candidates may result in avoidable accidents.

Offences involving drugs and alcohol

Operating a motor car while under the influence of narcotics or with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent is illegal in Colorado (BAC). A commercial driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) cannot exceed 0.04 percent.

Commercial drivers are likewise subject to federal restrictions on the use of drugs and alcohol. The FMCSA’s drug and alcohol guidelines compel trucking businesses to test their drivers before hiring, at random, and after complaints, allegations of driver drunkenness, or accidents. A driver’s license might be revoked if they violate drug or alcohol laws.

Illnesses and Driving Impairment

Suppose a truck driver’s ability to operate a commercial car properly is hampered by an illness, sickness, or condition. In that case, the truck business should suspend or relieve the driver of his or her responsibilities. Sleep apnea is a widespread ailment among truck drivers. This sleep disorder might impair a truck driver’s ability to obtain a decent night’s sleep, increasing the risk of drowsy driving accidents.

The FMCSA does not have any laws that directly target sleep apnea drivers. Still, it does specify that anybody with a medical condition that might impair their ability to operate a commercial car properly cannot drive in interstate commerce.

Trucking businesses must force sick drivers to seek treatment to restore their medical qualifications to drive. The truck firm should not allow a driver to return to work until they regain this status. If you break any of the FMCSA’s standards and cause a truck accident, you might be held liable for damages.

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