As a law firm that focuses on personal injury claims, we have firsthand knowledge of the harm that can come from driver fatigue. Commercial truck drivers, in particular, may be at risk for drowsiness behind the wheel because of their work schedules. Although federal regulations impose some limitations on hours worked, at least one New Jersey lawmaker is calling for additional trucking safety legislation.
Sen. Cory Brooker recently introduced legislation that would raise the minimum level of insurance required of truck drivers. His proposal, called the Truck Safety Act, would raise the dollar minimum for trucks up to $1.5 million. The current minimum is $750,000. In addition, regulations would require trucks to have electronic devices limiting their speed.
Notably, the lawmaker praised the contribution of commercial truck drivers to our economy. At the same time, he recognized that their hard work shouldn’t come at the expense of safety.
Unfortunately, a spokesperson for the American Trucking Associations did not respond favorably to the proposal. In particular, the spokesperson claimed that the alleged safety benefit from mandatory speed limiters was not supported by any existing data.
The association’s response is perhaps not completely unexpected. In the wake of a motor vehicle accident, insurance representatives or even the opposing party in a civil lawsuit may attempt to offer alternative explanations for the crash. Proving negligence, or fault, may be a difficult burden for the plaintiff. That’s where the experience of an attorney can prove essential. Our personal injury website offers examples of these and other issues that can arise when attempting to recover compensation for injuries caused by another’s negligence.
Source: Transport Topics, “Sen. Cory Booker Introduces Trucking Safety Legislation,” Eugene Mulero, July 10, 2015