Whether you drive on the roads or highways of Mississippi or the rest of the country, you will always notice a commercial truck of one type or another. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), one out of seven workers domestically is a truck driver. The U.S. commercial transportation system is the largest in the world, transporting and delivering trillions of dollars of goods to more than seven million businesses and nearly 300 million residents.
Unfortunately, due to the massive size and weight of an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer, these enormous vehicles often cause severe accidents. Due to the devastation of these types of collisions, the commercial carrier industry is heavily regulated, with safety monitoring as one of the top priorities. Truck drivers are obligated to follow these rules every time they’re on duty and ensure safety to other vehicles around them.
The following are four illegal things that some truck drivers despite the regulations:
- Talking or texting on their cellphones. Whether you are operating a commercial truck or passenger vehicle, it is illegal to be on your cell phone while driving in Mississippi. While it is legal to use a cellphone mount for hands-free access, distracted driving often results in a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30% of all accidents in the country is caused by distracted driving.
- Driving while fatigued. Despite the regulations by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) concerning how many hours truck drivers are allowed to be on the road on duty – as well as the log books used to record their working hours on the road – companies and drivers typically ignore the limits in order to meet deadlines or make a profit. When truck drivers are tired, they have slower reaction times and can fall asleep behind the wheel, resulting in a devastating accident.
- Using a radar detector. Commercial drivers are prohibited by the FMSCA to possess or use radar detectors, and companies are not allowed to encourage the use of such technology either. The concept behind this rule is that this type of equipment enables truckers to drive faster without worrying about law enforcement. However, speeding is a main contributing factor in truck accidents.
- Having unauthorized passengers on board. Commercial drivers are only allowed to have passengers with them who are authorized to be there. There are two main reasons why unauthorized passengers – such as a friend, family member, a hitchhiker, etc. – is because of liability issues and driver distraction that can result in a crash.
If any one of these four factors were involved in your collision with a commercial truck driver, you might have grounds to file a personal injury claim in order to recover your entitled financial compensation. If you suffered an injury due to a negligent truck driver in Mississippi, contact our Greenville MS truck accident lawyer at Harris Law Firm, PLLC today.
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