Every driver has a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely and carefully. But this is especially pivotal for semi-truck drivers, as their entering an auto collision may likely result in serious, potentially catastrophic, injuries and damages. Well, with that being said, please follow along to find out the important duties of semi-truck drivers and how a proficient Panama City truck accident attorney at Manuel & Thompson, PA can help you hold them responsible should they fail to do so.

What are the primary duties of semi-truck drivers?

For one, a semi-truck driver is supposed to meet certain requirements before getting behind the wheel. Namely, in the state of Florida, they must be at least 18 years old; possess a standard driver’s license; pass a vision test; and obtain a commercial driver’s license via knowledge and skills tests. This may be in addition to passing all training courses enforced by their trucking company employer.

Equally important, a semi-truck driver must not, under any circumstances, get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or partaking in drugs. While the legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) level for standard motor vehicle drivers is 0.08 percent, this is lowered to 0.04 percent for semi-truck drivers.

Lastly, a semi-truck driver must closely follow the schedule given by their trucking company employer. This is because their employer crafts this schedule based on state and federal safety regulations. So truck drivers must not push the barriers to get their work done quicker and give themselves more free time, or for any other reason. Below are the standard regulations:

  • A truck driver must not drive more than 12 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, or after 16 hours on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
  • A truck driver must not drive more than 70 hours in seven consecutive days or 80 hours in eight consecutive days.
  • A truck driver must be off duty for at least 34 hours at the end of a seven to eight-day work period.

What if a semi-truck driver fails to uphold these responsibilities?

It is disappointing if a semi-truck driver fails to uphold their duty of care and causes you to become the victim of a serious accident. But likely the best way you can recover from this event is to hold them responsible by seeking compensation through a personal injury claim.

With this legal action, you should first be sure that a semi-truck driver is entirely to blame, or if their trucking company employer is also partially at fault. Upon further investigation, you may discover the problem was with a faulty truck part, which has to do with a negligent truck manufacturing company. Or, a poor road condition, with which a city, county, or state entity is to be held responsible.

Speaking with a lawyer is never a bad idea, even if you are still unsure whether you require legal representation. At the very least, they may serve as a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear. So when in doubt, please schedule an initial consultation with a talented Panama City auto accident attorney from Manuel & Thompson, PA today.