The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is incredibly detailed when it comes to trucking regulations. Little margin is left for error. The FMCSA regulations lists thousands of safety features trucks must have, so there is no excuse for trucking companies to have unsafe fleets.
When companies skip out on all the required safety features for a truck in efforts to save money, it’s a blatant form of trucking company negligence-not to mention, they may be putting others on the road at risk.
Just a few vehicle safety and security features trucking companies must make sure to include on their rigs include:
- red or orange warning flags for loads projecting more than 4 inches from the truck;
- adjustable tie downs (except for steel strapping);
- rear-impact guards and rear impact protection (for all trucks manufactured after January 26, 2008); and
- hazard warning signals that operate on their own without the ignition switch.
There are thousands of specifications listed in the FMCSA’s regulations that guide trucking companies in safety measures for their rigs. This way, there won’t be any question as to what kinds of features are needed. When proper safety components, such as adjustable tie downs, aren’t used and a truck or its cargo end up causing your injuries, you may be able to hold the company liable for your condition.
Since the FMCSA’s many safety rules can be difficult to find, let alone decipher, if you’ve been in a truck accident in South Carolina and you suspect trucking company negligence may have negatively affected the truck’s safety, you’ll want a Charleston truck accident lawyer who is well versed with federal trucking regulations to investigate.
Seeking the Help of a Charleston Truck Accident Lawyer
The South Carolina truck accident lawyer team at the Shelly Leeke Law Firm is available to help accident victims cope with the legal implications of a serious injury. Our firm’s focus on personal injury cases includes injury from auto accidents including pedestrian and bicycle injuries, work-related injuries and Workers’ Compensation claims, and injuries resulting from dangerous prescription drugs.
Before you file a South Carolina personal injury claim, request a free copy of our South Carolina injury book. When you’re ready to get started on settling your accident claim, contact a Charleston truck accident lawyer for a free information packet and consultation – 1-888-690-0211.
