Truckers in Missouri are required by law to maintain extensive safety measures, but whenever major rule changes are happening in a major industry, it can take a while for those changes to become a reality. Unfortunately, pressuring the trucking industry to make major safety changes can be difficult, but in 2017, there will finally be a few changes that could make the roads safer for the average driver.
At Popham Law in Kansas City, we are the area's leading auto accident lawyers, and if you were in an accident caused by another driver, make sure to call our personal injury law firm for the attorneys who'll vigorously seek justice for you. For a free consultation, call our Kansas City law practice today at (816) 221-2288.
Changes for Truckers Coming in 2017
There are many reasons that commercial trucks get into accidents, and although some cases are the result of equipment failure or malfunction, the majority of accidents are caused by driver error.Also, since these vehicles often pass through multiple states, they are regulated by both local and national laws. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), for example, requires certain minimum qualifications to be a commercial truck driver and limits how many hours a trucker may drive in a given period of time.However, sometimes under pressure from employers to meet deadlines and sometimes due to other reasons, some truckers break these regulations, such as driving for longer than legally acceptable (or too long in general) or pass mandatory weigh stations.To make the roads safer, some of the regulation changes include:
- Training. First time and current CDL drivers may need to complete a course of instruction that meets the new Final Rule qualification standards.
- Hours of Service. If a study showing that the 34-hour restart rule (two stretches of rest between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. during the 34 hour rest) does reduce driver fatigue. If true, this rule may be re-enacted.
- Electronic Logging Devices. These devices (ELDs) will be required for all drivers on December 16, 2017. While manually logged hours have been the standard since 1938, the ELD requirement will make logged hours much harder to falsify, and hopefully it will cut down on overworked drivers.
Common Trucking Violations That Result in Auto Wrecks, and Injuries
Most truck drivers must abide by the following rules:
- Take 30-minute breaks every eight hours of being on-duty
- After driving 70 hours in a week, the driver must rest for 34 consecutive hours
- Not driver longer than 11 hours in a day
- A weight limit that's equal or less than the Federal limits
- Stop at weigh stations in Missouri if the truck has a registered weight of 18,001 pounds or more
With these regulations in mind, and considering the conditions some truckers are put in, the most common ways that trucking violations can cause auto wrecks include, but are not limited to:
- Over-loading the truck past cargo limit restrictions and not properly securing cargo using approved securing devices.
- Not having a proper license. Most truck drivers in Missouri need a Class A license, which states that the driver can operate a truck weighing more than 13 tons, including a towed trailer weighing more than 5 tons.
- Breaking hours-of-service rules, such as driving more than legally allowed.
What You Should Do If You've Been in a Trucking Accident in Missouri
If you were in a trucking accident in Missouri, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention for yourself and others, and make sure the police file an accident report. Additionally, it's essential to contact an experienced auto accident lawyer who can look into your case and see if any trucking violations were committed.Often, the trucking company may quickly seek to absolve itself of any wrongdoing with the goal of avoiding to pay for your accident and injuries.
Call the Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers at Popham Law
If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an accident with a truck, call our Kansas City auto accident lawyers ASAP. We will compassionately and vigorously represent your interest, collect the necessary evidence, and build a legal case to fight for the maximum available compensation for the financial damages you incurred.For a free, no-obligation consultation with our Kansas City law firm, call us today at (816) 221-2288.
