I was injured in a Florida truck accident and I want to know the driving laws that apply in my case

Author: Attorney Jason Macri

Commercial truck drivers spend a large part of their workday driving on our highways and roads. Many are required to meet delivery quotas, making their job both time-consuming and tedious. Unfortunately, many truck drivers struggle to keep up with their delivery requirements and quotas, forcing them to work longer hours on less sleep. Many truck drivers experience a high level of fatigue as a result of this lack of sleep, leading to an increase in trucking accidents.

Commercial truck drivers are subject to the same laws as any other driver, however, they are also subject to an additional set of laws not applicable to the typical driver. For example, a commercial truck driver cannot drive over a certain amount of hours without stopping for sleep. Their employers are required to keep records regarding how many hours they have spent on the road and how many hours they have had off. Obviously this rule is intended to limit the amount of driver fatigue which one would hope will limit the amount of trucking accidents.

Another commercial driving law intended to increase safety requires that commercial vehicles be regularly inspected. This law is intended to ensure that a particular commercial vehicle is fit for the road, decreasing the likelihood of an accident caused by vehicle malfunction. Safety is a priority reflected by Florida’s commercial driving laws. Failure to comply with these laws leaves a truck driver and his/her employer subject to criminal charges as well as potential liability issues.

Any victim of a trucking accident should consult an attorney with experience going up against commercial truck drivers and their employers. Your lawyer will be well versed in Florida’s commercial driving laws and will be able to help determine which trucking laws were violated. As the victim of a trucking accident, you are required to prove that the truck driver was negligent and that this negligence was the cause of the accident and your injuries. Though proving these facts may seem to be an easy task, one must keep in mind that the truck driver and his/her employer will not simply admit wrongdoing. Instead, they will stop at nothing in their attempts to show they were not liable for the accident and your damages. Having an experienced lawyer on your side will help navigate through these issues in an effort to help you receive the compensation you deserve.