Truck collisions involve weight disparities, federal regulations, and a chain of potentially responsible parties — driver, motor carrier, brokerage, and maintenance contractor. Building the case requires preserving electronic logs and dispatch records before they are overwritten.
Overview
Commercial trucks operate under federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing driving hours, vehicle maintenance, and driver qualification. Violations of these rules — and the corporate practices that produce them — often establish negligence per se.
Key Considerations
- FMCSA hours-of-service — driving-hour limits and mandatory rest periods.
- Vicarious liability — motor carriers are responsible for negligence within the scope of employment.
- Spoliation evidence — electronic logging devices, telematics, and dispatch records must be preserved early.
- Equipment failure — brake, tire, and lighting maintenance shifts liability to the carrier or contractor.
- Jackknife and rollover dynamics — high center of gravity and load distribution are decisive in reconstruction.
Damages
- Past and future medical care
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment
- Wrongful-death recovery for surviving family
Spoliation letters matter
Within days of a serious truck collision, counsel should send a preservation-of-evidence letter to the carrier directing retention of ELD data, dispatch records, maintenance logs, and driver qualification files.
How We Engage
Initial consultation is complimentary; fees are typically contingent in personal-injury matters.
