To help prevent deaths and serious injuries related to commercial vehicle accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation. Commercial vehicles are heavier and present an increased risk of danger, death and injuries on the roadways when truck accidents occur. Special regulations are associated with commercial vehicles to help keep the public safe.
The FMCSA drafts and enforces federal trucking regulations. These regulations are designed to promote safety on the roadways by removing high-risk carriers and drivers from the roadways, improving access to newer technologies and safety information and increasing safety awareness. To achieve its goal of reducing commercial accidents, including truck accidents, the FMCSA conducts different activities.
Activities the FMCSA conducts to reduce truck accidents includes investigating truck accidents, enforcing federal trucking regulations, conducting compliance audits for truck drivers and trucking companies, conducting research and other activities as well. One example is that the FMCSA has conducted research into driver fatigue and issued hours of service regulations limiting the number of hours a truck driver can safety drive. Semi-truck drivers are required to take sufficient rest periods to help keep the traveling public safe.
When a truck driver has acted negligently, such as failing to adhere to federal trucking regulations or a variety of other situations and circumstances, they may be liable to victims who have been harmed as a result. It is important for victims of truck accidents to be familiar with all the levels of protection they enjoy when harmed in a truck accident and understand the resources and remedies available to them.
Source: Injury.findlaw.com, “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Overview,” Accessed April 30, 2017
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