Trucking Lawyers
When you're involved in a trucking accident, it's important to hire an experienced lawyer. They can help you identify all responsible parties and ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries.
A trucking lawyer will be well-versed in the numerous laws and regulations governing the industry. They are up-to-date with the most recent developments in law at both the federal and state levels.
Commercial vehicle damage claims
Trucking lawyers handle personal injury and wrongful death cases that involve commercial vehicles like tractor trailers, delivery vans, and big rig trucks. These kinds of accidents are extremely complex and require an attorney who is knowledgeable of the laws and regulations governing commercial trucks.
Commercial trucks are more hazardous than smaller passenger vehicles such as pickup trucks due to their size and weight or weighty loads. They also have different insurance requirements and liability policies. Federal regulations govern commercial
truck accident lawsuit drivers and their driving hours and ability to transport hazardous materials.
These regulations can be extremely difficult to follow. A knowledgeable lawyer can aid victims of truck accidents that were caused by negligence or deliberate behavior of a truck driver or trucking company.
Commercial vehicle accidents can result in injuries such as future and past medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. The severity of the injuries and the severity of the accident will determine the amount of compensation victims will receive.
Sometimes, the conduct that led to the
truck accident law firms crash could have been so outrageous or shady that the victim's lawyer may be able to seek punitive damages to punish the driver or company. The victims of truck accidents often see this a positive thing, as it can increase their settlements.
In the majority of cases, commercial trucking companies and their insurance companies do everything they can to prevent giving full compensation to crash victims. This means that any settlement offers are usually far less than the amount you deserve.
FMCSA and DOT compliance
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) develops regulations, enforces and implements them designed to prevent trucking accidents as well as deaths and injuries. These regulations include limitations on hours of maintenance, inspections, and service as well as logbooks for drivers and more.
The FMCSA also has a system, called the Safety Measurement System, which collects data from roadside inspections and state crash reports to pinpoint carriers with an history of unsafe driving, or other issues that could cause a collision. This data can be used to justify a claim against a business like a driver or company that has violated safety rules.
Another significant DOT compliance issue is drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers. The Omnibus Transportation Employee Test Act was enacted by Congress. It requires DOT agencies to ensure that safety-conscious transportation employees be examined for alcohol and drug use.
Each agency has its specific rules about the time and manner in which testing should be conducted. These rules are crucial to making sure that truckers as well as other transportation workers are not intoxicated by alcohol or drugs while working.
While these regulations are a good start, they often fall short of what is required to establish the industry standard in the event of a negligence claim. This is due to the fact that the actual industry standard may be higher than the one that is set out by the FMCSA.
It is vital to consult with an attorney who is familiar with both federal and state laws. A skilled lawyer can weave all of these regulations together to make a convincing case against a negligent trucking company or driver.
Public transportation defense
Public transportation defense is an area of law that trucking lawyers often specialize in. These lawyers can help businesses to understand the complexities of transportation law while protecting their clients' rights during legal instances.
If a trucking business or its driver is involved in an accident, it might be difficult to figure out who to call for legal assistance. The legal issues involved in the aftermath of a crash in transportation are usually complex, and may involve a variety of parties. This is why it is essential to choose a competent attorney with experience in handling commercial transportation issues.
In addition to transporting people trucks and other vehicles transport products for a charge as well. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the industry and establishes the safety standards for commercial drivers, freight carriers and other employees in the field.
If you are injured in a bus accident or are a victim in one, it is essential to seek the help of a New York City public transportation lawyer as soon as you can. This will ensure that your rights are protected and you aren't able to accept any settlement offers from the bus company or their insurance.
The bus system of New York City is a vast network that includes buses, trains, and stations. It connects all five boroughs. The bus routes are operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).
Accidents are still possible, even regardless of the fact that the MTA will do everything it can to avoid injuries on its buses and trains. If you ever get hurt in a bus or train accident, you can contact an experienced NYC public transport lawyer to defend your rights and get compensation for your loss.
Labor law
Truckers should be knowledgeable about labor law issues because they could be a victim of victimization by their employer or receive less than legal minimum wage, or operate unsafe trucks. A trucking lawyer who understands both state and federal laws can help them file a complaint against their employer and negotiate a settlement on their behalf.
The payment of hours worked is among the most frequently encountered issues in trucking. Traditionally,
truck accident law firm drivers are paid by the mile; however this doesn't include the hours spent loading unloading, waiting for the truck to be ready and waiting for delays. PAM Transport was recently convicted of violating their contract and has been ordered to pay its truckers a minimum wage for every hour they work including sleeping.
This is a significant shift for the industry, as truckers have always been treated as independent contractors rather than employees. This could affect their rights to pay and benefits, and even whistleblower protections.
Additionally, trucking companies often mistakenly classify their employees as independent contractors in order to avoid having to comply with the more legal obligations that are required of an employee. This is a standard practice for employers who need to hire new drivers, however, it can pose a problem for truckers themselves.
This isn't just the first lawsuit brought against PAM Transport. A number of other truckers have filed class action lawsuits against their employers claiming they were not properly compensated.
The cases are often complicated however, trucking lawyers who are aware of the intricacies and laws of state and federal labor can handle the cases. A labor law attorney can assist employees and assist transport companies defend themselves from wrongdoing by truckers. They can also handle legal issues that arise in the day-today operation of a trucking business.
Contract matters
Lawyers for trucking can help companies with contract matters such as broker/carrier agreements, transportation service agreements and dedicated fleet contracts. They can also assist in the formation of a company as well as winding down and restructuring.