Commercial Truck Drivers -- Held to Higher Standards

Accidents involving commercial vehicles happen every day, and can leave victims with serious injuries that can have long term complications. Because the people who drive commercial vehicles drive professionally, they are held to higher standards when it comes to compliance with safe driving practices and compliance with traffic laws than other drivers. Because of the very large size and enormous weight of the vehicles, collisions involving commercial trucks cause serious and even life-threatening injuries. In addition, commercial vehicles may be carrying dangerous cargo that, if released into the environment, may cause additional injury beyond that caused by the initial vehicle accident. Due to the inherent dangers involved with the operation of commercial trucks, the people who operate these vehicles are required to carry commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), as well as required to comply with strict federal and state regarding driver conduct and the operation of their vehicles.

CDLs are one of the primary ways that states and the federal government regulate the commercial trucking industry. While individual states issue CDLs, the federal government established minimum requirements for the issuance of CDLs under the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. Prior to the act, each state set licensing requirements individually. While participation in a training program is not necessary to obtain a CDL, many drivers attend truck driver training schools or programs offered by trucking companies. In order to obtain a CDL, a driver must correctly answer at least 80 percent a written test consisting of at least 30 questions about highway safety and different parts of trucks. For the driving portion of the exam, a candidate must perform a series of driving maneuvers, and additional endorsements require additional tests.

In addition to having more stringent licensing requirements than other drivers, the holder of a CDL is also subject to more serious sanctions for violations of traffic laws and regulations. Violations may result in the revocation or suspension of a person’s CDL. In addition, some violations, such as those involving alcohol, may result in the disqualification of a CDL even if they are committed in a non-commercial vehicle. Depending on the violation, a driver’s CDL may be disqualified for a set period of time or may be revoked for life.

If a driver of a commercial vehicle is found in violation of any of the myriad regulations that apply to CDL licensing, those violations may serve to indicate negligence if his or her actions resulted in a trucking accident. If you have been injured in a trucking accident and suspect that it may have been the result of driver negligence, you should contact an experienced Milwaukee truck accident attorney immediately. Because claims involving car accidents are subject to a strict statute of limitations, it is important to not delay when considering filing a lawsuit. You should also make sure to undergo a complete medical evaluation after a truck accident in order to ensure that your injuries are properly identified and documented. In addition, due to the complicated legal and technical matters unique to the industry that are often at issue in trucking accident cases, it is important to retain an Indianapolis auto accident attorney or South Bend truck accident lawyers who has experience handling these types of cases.