New Jersey Trucking Company Negligence Attorneys
Proudly serving all of New Jersey
Hold Negligent Truck Companies Accountable for Accidents and Injuries
Trucking companies are responsible for keeping their vehicles and drivers at top performance to keep roadways safe. There are many challenges to running a trucking business, and these include finding business, hiring, fleet maintenance, bookkeeping and actually delivering shipments. With all of the things it takes to run a trucking business, safety sometimes takes a back seat to other pressing concerns.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) actively promotes safety initiatives to drivers and trucking companies to address this problem. They estimate that a fatal large truck crash costs a trucking company over $3.5 million and that non-fatal crashes average around $200,000 in damages. With that much money at stake, trucking companies would be wise to pay attention to safety; yet, they often take shortcuts that sacrifice safety.
The FMCSA has identified some key areas that trucking companies should address to maintain safe operations:
HIRE SAFE DRIVERS AND REQUIRE SAFE DRIVING
Trucking companies have a duty to hire drivers who do not have a history of unsafe driving habits such as speeding, unsafe lane changes or driving under the influence. They should also discipline drivers who fail to drive safely while employed by them, and this includes firing a driver, if necessary. The FMCSA offers tools to address drivers’ drug and alcohol use if they drive under the influence in New Jersey.
COMPLY WITH HOURS OF SERVICE REGULATIONS
There are strict trucking regulations regarding how many hours a driver may be on the road before they must either do some other type of work, such as paperwork, or be off the clock completely. Drivers must also keep very accurate and detailed logs of their hours. Trucking companies must make it clear to drivers that they are not to exceed their hours of service limits or falsify logs.
REQUIRE OR PROVIDE PROPER TRAINING
Driving a tractor-trailer requires specialized training and licensure. Trucking companies must verify that people they hire have the proper license for the type of rig they will drive; including any special endorsements for certain types of loads like hazardous materials or tankers.
MAINTAIN TRUCKS AND TRAILERS
Trucking companies must make sure that the vehicles they put on the road are in top condition. Tires, brakes, lights and hood latches are among the critical components that can cause loss of control during a major truck collision.
LOAD CARGO PROPERLY
There are strict rules for the way cargo must be loaded. These rules tell companies how to distribute weight and secure cargo, and every trailer has a weight limit for safe handling.
Call Our New Jersey Truck Company Negligence Attorneys Today
If you have been involved in a large truck crash, it is likely that the trucking company has some responsibility for it. Whether they let an unfit driver get behind the wheel or falsified maintenance records to get a shipment out on time, each time a trucking company cuts a corner, they take enormous risks with the lives of others on the road. Call the NJ truck accident attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. today at (609) 240-0040 to determine whether you may have a legal claim to compensation due to the negligence of a trucking company.
Additional Information
The firm’s principals, Gabriel R. Lependorf and David E. Silverstein, have each been representing injured victims in the State of New Jersey for over thirty years.
Call Our Office At (609) 240-0040 Today for Help
