The smart blog 0715

Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Rules in Truck Accident Claims When a semi-truck crash happens near the end of a long shift, one of the first questions is whether the driver had stayed inside the federal hours-of-service limits. Fatigue leaves little physical trace at a crash scene, which is why the answer tends to come from records instead of the road itself. A truck accident attorney looking at one of these claims will usually compare the driver's logs with every othe

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Accident? A crash involving a tractor-trailer often has more than one responsible party. The driver, the trucking company, the trailer owner, the shipper that loaded the freight and the maker of a failed part may all play a role. Identifying every responsible party is an early job for a truck accident lawyer, because each party may carry its own insurance. Claims against the driver Most claims start with the driver's conduct, su

Truck Accident Statistics From FMCSA and NHTSA Data Federal crash data gives a national picture of how often large trucks are involved in serious crashes. The figures below come from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and each one is tied to its data year. A truck accident attorney might use figures like these for context, but statistics describe patterns across many crashes, not what happe

Tractor-Trailer Crash Claim Timeline: From the Crash to Settlement Truck accident claims move through stages that may take months or even years. Some deadlines belong to the trucking company, such as how long it has to keep certain records, while others belong to the injured person, such as the statute of limitations. A truck accident attorney can explain where a given claim sits in this sequence, though no two claims follow the same path. Right after the crash Medica

Choosing a Truck Accident Lawyer: Questions to Ask Hiring a truck accident attorney is a different decision from hiring a lawyer for a minor car crash. Tractor-trailer claims tend to involve federal safety regulations, electronic evidence and multiple insurance policies, and the trucking company frequently has lawyers and investigators working on the crash from the first days. These questions can make a first consultation more productive. Start with the license Before

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Tractor-Trailer Crash? A tractor-trailer crash often involves more than one responsible party. The driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, the company that loaded the cargo and the manufacturer of a defective part can each play a role. Identifying every responsible party is an early job for a truck accident lawyer, because each party may carry its own insurance. The truck driver The starting point is usually the driver

The Timeline of a Semi-Truck Crash Claim Truck accident claims move through stages that may take months or even years. Some periods apply to the trucking company, such as how long it must keep certain records, while others belong to the injured person, such as the statute of limitations. A truck accident attorney can explain where a given claim sits in this sequence, although every claim is different. Right after the crash Medical care comes first, and the records cre