Commercial trucks and truck drivers in Texas are required to follow both state and federal commercial semi-truck regulations. In the event that a car accident involving a commercial vehicle occurs in Dallas, one thing that will be considered when determining fault and liability is whether or not a violation of state or federal trucking regulations occurred. If you’re filing a claim for damages after a truck accident, here are some things that may affect it.
There are dozens of federal regulations to which commercial vehicles must adhere. If the driver involved in the accident didn’t have the right type of commercial driver’s license, for example, then this can affect their liability.
Alternately, if the truck driver didn’t rest as required under federal law (a truck driver cannot drive more than 11 hours in a 24 hour period), then the truck driver or the trucking company may be considered negligent.
Other federal regulations that may be considered in a truck accident claim:
Like federal regulations, there are also a number of rules and regulations for commercial drivers that are issued by the state of Texas. For example, all drivers of commercial vehicles in Texas are required to submit to a blood test to determine blood alcohol content (BAC) in the event that they are stopped by police and the officer suspects intoxication.
What’s more, while the BAC limit for regular drivers in Texas is .08 percent, for commercial drivers, the BAC limit is .04 percent. As such, if the driver who caused your crash had a BAC of .04 percent or higher at the time of the accident, this may be considered in determining liability.
Other behaviors that may seem innocuous, like a commercial truck driver texting while driving, are illegal and if proven can aid your accident case.
If you’re in a car accident caused by a commercial truck driver, it’s important that you know as much as you can about state and federal business 18-wheeler regulations. The more you know, the greater your chances are of proving negligence, fault, and liability.
At the Law Office of Julie Johnson, PLLC, our truck accident lawyers can help you gather all of the relevant evidence you need to prove that you deserve compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, property damage, and pain and suffering. To help you file your claim and reach a settlement, contact us today at 214-290-8001.
