When commercial vehicles like semi-trucks, tanker trucks, and flatbeds get into accidents, people driving or riding in smaller and lighter passenger vehicles can be severely injured. Under Connecticut law,1 if you can show that your accident was caused by the negligence of a truck driver, there is a good chance that you will be able to recover compensation for your injuries. There are many ways in which truck driver negligence could be the cause of a crash. Some of the most common are detailed below.
Speeding
Truck drivers spend long hours on the road and often drive hundreds of miles each day. As we all know, long trips can be tedious, and truck drivers want to get to their destination as soon as possible, just like everyone does. Additionally, many drivers are operating under strict time constraints that may provide even more motivation to speed. In almost every case imaginable, violating the speed limit while driving a truck is negligent.
Violating Federal Regulations
Trucks that weigh up to 20 to 30 times as much as passenger vehicles traveling at speeds of 70 miles per hour or more, put us at all at risk of serious injury. For this reason, almost every aspect of the trucking industry is regulated by the federal government, including the hours a driver may drive in a given day and the keeping of records regarding inspection, repairs, and maintenance of vehicles. In some cases, failure to adhere to federal regulations2 may constitute negligence on the part of a driver or a trucking company.
Impaired Driving
It has long been known that there are issues with drug and alcohol abuse within the trucking industry. Long hours alone and the desire to stay awake and alert can lead some drivers to use alcohol or drugs like methamphetamines. Truck drivers that cause accidents while they are impaired will most likely be held liable for the injuries that result.
Call a Hartford Personal Injury Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
A truck accident can entitle you to significant compensation under Connecticut law. To learn whether you have a case, call Leighton, Katz & Drapeau today at 860-875-7000 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Hartford personal injury attorney.
1https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/titles.htm
