Truckers must follow the same rules of the road as all other motorists, such as speed limits, yielding to other vehicles when appropriate, and not being distracted while driving. A failure to follow any of these rules may indicate trucker negligence and serve as the legal basis for a truck accident claim.
However, truckers must also follow specific rules set by their industry. For example, federal regulations limit the number of hours that a trucker may drive in a given day or week, a violation of which could lead to a fatigued driver with reduced reaction time. Similar laws govern maximum truck weights and how they must distribute their cargo to maintain balance in a trailer. Failure to follow these regulations may result in a trucking company sharing liability with an at-fault trucker. A knowledgeable Bay Shore truck accident attorney could investigate the causes of an accident to hold negligent truckers and their companies responsible for a person’s losses.