A truck accident can change your life in an instant. A collision with a large commercial truck can leave you with serious injuries, expensive medical bills, and a long, stressful recovery. On top of that, dealing with trucking companies and their insurance providers can feel overwhelming.
The situation becomes even more frustrating when you learn that the truck driver or trucking company ignored important safety rules, putting you and others at risk. Federal and Utah trucking laws exist to prevent these accidents, but when they are violated, the consequences can be severe.
At Flickinger Boulton Robson Weeks, our Orem truck accident lawyers have helped many accident victims recover compensation by proving trucking violations. In this article, we will explain important trucking laws, why violations matter, and how we investigate these cases to fight for your rights.
Truck drivers and their employers must follow guidelines set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, often called the FMCSA. These rules aim to protect everyone on the roads.
Some major regulations include hours-of-service limits, vehicle maintenance requirements, and drug and alcohol testing.
Hours-of-service regulations limit how long truck drivers can drive each day and each week. For example, a driver might be allowed to drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, after having at least 10 hours off duty.
The purpose is to prevent driver fatigue. If a driver violates these limits, they risk nodding off behind the wheel and causing an accident.
The FMCSA also requires regular inspections of vehicles. Trucking companies must check brakes, tires, lights, and other critical components. Any problem discovered should be fixed before the truck goes back on the road.
These inspections can be daily or weekly, depending on the fleet’s schedule. If a company overlooks a major issue, like worn-out brakes, it endangers both the driver and other people sharing the road.
Drug and alcohol testing is another cornerstone of federal safety rules. Drivers must pass pre-employment tests and can be tested randomly. In addition, if a truck is involved in a serious crash, the driver may be tested afterward.
If drivers fail or refuse these tests, they can face serious penalties and lose their commercial driver’s license. This rule is vital because impaired driving can be especially dangerous when operating large vehicles.
Record-keeping is another essential part of federal regulations. Drivers keep logbooks (or electronic logs) to track their hours on duty, miles covered, and rest periods. Trucking companies must maintain these records for a set period.
They might also store inspection and maintenance documents. If an accident occurs, these records can show whether the driver or company followed the rules. Missing or falsified records can suggest wrongdoing.
The FMCSA also focuses on special circumstances. For instance, drivers hauling hazardous materials need specialized training and must display warning signs on their trucks.
These regulations reduce the risk of chemical spills or explosions if there is an accident. Failing to follow these guidelines can lead to severe legal consequences, especially if someone is hurt because of the violation.
Trucking laws in Utah follow federal rules, but the state also has its own regulations. Many of these laws match national standards, but some are designed for Utah’s unique roads and conditions. If you’re involved in a truck accident in Orem or anywhere in the state, knowing these laws can be important.
Utah has specific weight and size limits for trucks on state highways. If a truck carries more weight than allowed, it usually needs a special permit. These rules help prevent damage to roads and bridges.
If a truck is too heavy and doesn’t have a permit, it can cause potholes and other road problems. Overloaded trucks are also harder to control, making it more difficult for drivers to stop or steer safely.
Trucks must have their cargo properly tied down. If a driver doesn’t secure a load correctly, the cargo can shift, making the truck unstable. In some cases, items might fall onto the road, creating dangerous obstacles for other drivers.
If an accident happens because of unsecured cargo, the driver or trucking company may be held responsible. Fines for these violations can be high.
Utah has different speed limits for trucks in certain areas. Some highways allow higher speeds, but truckers must still consider their vehicle’s size and weight.
Driving too fast is especially dangerous on steep roads or in heavy traffic. Police officers can pull over speeding trucks, and accidents caused by speeding are often very serious.
Trucks in Utah must pass safety inspections. At weigh stations across the state, officials check brakes, lights, tires, and other equipment. They may also review the driver’s logbook to ensure they are following work-hour rules.
If a truck fails inspection, the company may have to fix the problems before the truck can go back on the road. Companies that break safety rules can face fines and penalties.
Truck drivers in Utah must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). Some types of cargo, like hazardous materials, require special endorsements, meaning the driver needs extra training and testing.
If a driver doesn’t have the correct license, the trucking company can also get in trouble for allowing them to drive illegally.
Utah follows federal rules for drug and alcohol testing. Trucking companies must test drivers in certain situations, like after an accident.
If a driver refuses a test or fails it, this goes on their record. Repeated violations can lead to a suspended CDL. If a driver is caught driving under the influence, they may face criminal charges.
Trucking regulations exist for a reason: to save lives. When a driver or company ignores these rules, crashes become more likely. Even a small lapse, like skipping a brake inspection, might lead to a catastrophic event on the highway. Here are some common ways violations can cause accidents.
One of the biggest threats on the road is a drowsy driver. Hours-of-service regulations help keep drivers alert by mandating rest periods. If a driver falsifies their logbook to drive longer than legally permitted, the risk of dozing off or reacting too slowly jumps significantly. A tired driver is more prone to rear-end collisions, drifting across lanes, or failing to brake in time.
Neglecting truck maintenance is another frequent violation. If a company ignores brake issues, the vehicle may not stop quickly enough during an emergency. Similarly, worn tires could blow out, causing the truck to swerve or rollover.
These mechanical failures are especially dangerous on highways where speeds are higher. The driver might lose control, and nearby cars have little time to dodge a swerving big rig.
Carrying too much weight or distributing cargo unevenly can destabilize a truck. For instance, a trailer might jackknife when the driver brakes or the load might shift in a turn.
Overloaded trucks also require more distance to stop, so if traffic slows suddenly, the driver might crash into vehicles ahead. This scenario often leads to multiple injuries and extensive property damage.
Some companies skip thorough training to save time or money, leading to inexperienced drivers behind the wheel. These drivers may not know how to handle sharp curves, steep grades, or slippery roads common in Utah. If they panic in a critical moment, accidents can happen.
Both federal and Utah laws require regular drug and alcohol testing. Sadly, some drivers still use illegal substances or drive under the influence of alcohol. Impaired drivers struggle to judge distances, maintain proper speeds, or stay awake. This puts everyone around them in danger.
Many accidents occur because trucks were not inspected or repaired as needed. An out-of-service order might be issued if a truck is deemed unsafe, but some companies ignore these orders to meet delivery deadlines. This reckless approach can lead to brake failures, engine fires, or tire blowouts on busy roads.
Sometimes drivers face unrealistic delivery schedules, pushing them to speed or skip breaks. Speeding trucks can easily lose control when traffic slows or a sudden obstacle appears. The heavier the vehicle, the worse the potential impact and injuries.
At Flickinger Boulton Robson Weeks, we know that identifying regulatory violations can make or break a truck accident case. If the driver or company failed to follow the rules, that evidence can help show negligence and liability. Here is a closer look at how we investigate whether regulations were violated.
Truck accident scenes can change rapidly as vehicles are towed, debris is cleared, and logbooks get updated or lost. We move quickly to preserve any evidence.
This might include taking photos of the crash site, getting witness statements, and demanding the trucking company hand over maintenance records, driver logs, and black box data. If we do not act quickly, critical records could vanish.
We also look at the driver’s record. Were they ever cited for driving under the influence? Have they been involved in other accidents?
We’ll check if they had the proper commercial driver’s license or endorsements. If the driver lacked the right qualifications, or if they had a history of violating hours-of-service rules, that is a red flag. We also confirm whether the trucking company was aware of these issues.
Another crucial step is reviewing the truck’s maintenance history. We see if the trucking company regularly inspected the brakes, tires, and other components, as required by law. If we find that a major repair was ignored or that the truck was overdue for inspection, that might point to negligence.
Sometimes, a failure to fix even a small mechanical problem can have big consequences on the road.
We often enlist the help of accident reconstruction specialists or mechanical engineers. They can analyze how the crash likely happened based on skid marks, vehicle damage, and black box data.
If the reconstruction points to faulty brakes or an overloaded trailer, we can link that to a violation of federal or Utah regulations. Expert testimony can be persuasive in court or negotiations.
Beyond the driver, the trucking company’s internal policies matter too. We check if they set unrealistic delivery timelines that push drivers to skip rest breaks or speed.
If we find internal emails or memos encouraging drivers to ignore certain safety procedures, that can strongly support a claim of negligence.
Trucking companies often have large insurance policies, and insurers defend them aggressively. Once we have solid proof of regulation violations, we present our findings to the insurance adjusters.
This can shift the leverage in our favor because few insurers want to risk losing in court over clear safety breaches. We aim for a settlement that covers your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. If the insurer refuses a fair deal, we are prepared to litigate.
Federal and state regulations can change over time. Our Orem truck accident lawyers stay informed about new rules or updates from the FMCSA. This knowledge helps us remain effective in investigating and proving noncompliance in your case.
Through thorough investigation, expert analysis, and strong negotiation, we strive to hold trucking companies accountable when they break the rules. Our goal is always to secure fair compensation for clients, drawing upon our firm’s history of sizable settlements in serious injury and wrongful death cases.
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