The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has ordered a Georgia-based trucking company, to immediately stop all interstate and intrastate operations after a federal investigation found the company poses an imminent hazard to public safety. According to an FMCSA document, on Aug. 11, a truck operated by the company on I-95 in Virginia, failed to reduce speed from an estimated 63 mph as it entered a construction work zone. The truck crashed into the back of a Jeep, killing the driver and injuring a passenger. The truck driver was charged with reckless driving, operating with a suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle and was in violation of federal hours-of-service regulations. It is exactly this type of blatant disregard to rules and regulations that leads to RI workers’ compensation lawsuits.
Several Safety Violations Detected
FMCSA safety investigators determined that the company was in violation of a number of federal safety statutes and regulations including:
- Failure to comply with legal requirements regarding driver qualification requirements including making sure its drivers had the proper commercial driver’s permits. FMCSA investigators said the company could not produce any driver qualification file with the requisite employment application, medical certificate, driver road test certificate or record of violations.
- Failure to properly monitor drivers so they comply with the hours-of-service (HOS) requirements fatigued drivers from operating large trucks.
- Failure to monitor its drivers to make sure they are safely operating their fleet. For example, the firm’s truckers had been cited for a number of safety violations including reckless driving and failure to obey traffic control devices.
- Failure to make sure that the vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and repaired. Investigators found that the company’s officials could not produce the required maintenance files or records including copies of roadside inspections.
Liability Issues in Truck Accidents
RI trucking accident lawsuits are often caused by severe injuries, particularly to those who are in smaller passenger vehicles. Often times, truck accidents are caused by the negligence of the truck driver, the truck owner or trucking company. There may also be other responsible parties such as the company that loaded the truck or is responsible for maintaining it. Truck companies have a legal obligation to ensure that they hire drivers after extensive background checks and make sure drivers are following the law when they drive. In addition, they must ensure that the trucks are maintained properly.
Call d’Oliveira & Associates Today!
If you have been injured in an accident involving a large truck or a work related accident you may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatments, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Our highly experienced RI personal injury lawyers charge no legal fees until you get the settlement or award you are entitled to. Call us toll-free at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online for a no-cost consultation and case evaluation.
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