Oklahoma City Trucking Regulation Accident Attorney

How was your trucking accident in Oklahoma City caused? If you were hit by a truck driver who was violating a trucking regulation, then Fulmer Sill and our legal team might be able to use that information to your advantage. Our trucking regulation accident lawyers can investigate the circumstances of your truck accident, build a strong claim in your name, and demand justice from the liable parties on your behalf. Come to our firm today to see what legal options might be available to you.

Important Federal Trucking Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the main regulatory authority of the United States government for the trucking and transportation industries. It is tasked with creating and enforcing safety standards for these industries to follow, so streets, railways, and even shipping lanes stay safe for the public and private corporations alike. When a truck accident happens, one of the first questions that our attorneys ask is: “Did the truck driver or trucking company violate an FMCSA regulation?” If the evidence shows that they did, we will have a strong foundation on which to start your claim.

A few of the most important federal trucking regulations deal with:

• Hours of service: Most commercial truck drivers may work a 14-hour shift with up to 11 hours behind the wheel.
• Consecutive time off: A 14-hour shift can only be started by a commercial truck driver who has not worked for the previous 10 consecutive hours.
• 60/70-hour duty limit: A truck driver is not permitted to drive after reaching 60 hours of on-duty time in the last 7 days, or 70 hours of on-duty time in the last 8 days. Importantly, this limit applies just to driving, not necessarily completing other work duties.
• Drug and alcohol testing: Commercial trucking companies must randomly conduct tests for drug and alcohol use among their drivers.
• Weight limits: No commercial truck or vehicle can exceed 80,000 pounds gross/total vehicle weight, 20,000 pounds on a single axle, or 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle group.
• Speed limit: The FMCSA has made varying decisions about speed limits for heavy trucks throughout the years. In 2023, there is a proposed speed limit of 68 mph on highways, but the exact amount has not been decided.

Oklahoma Transportation Division Regulations

For the most part, states adhere to FMCSA regulations when applying rules to trucking and transportation within their borders. However, the Oklahoma Transportation Division has some specifics that only apply to commercial vehicles and heavy trucks in Oklahoma. Using our years of collective experience in handling truck accident claims and lawsuits, we can see if any Oklahoma-specific regulations were violated in your case and if that violation contributed to the accident.

Most Oklahoma trucking regulations deal with permit requirements and exceptions, such as hauling:

• Oversized loads
• Overweight cargo
• “Superloads” (oversize and overweight)
• Unsafe or hazardous materials

Proving Trucking Regulation Violations

When a trucking regulation is violated, it can create a serious danger for everyone on the road. The type of danger will depend on the type of regulation that is violated. For example, if hours of service violations occur, the truck driver will be more likely to drive while exhausted, which can cause them to fall asleep at the wheel. Or if a weight limit regulation is violated, the truck’s brakes can fail or its trailer might tip over from being overweight.

As your chosen Oklahoma City trucking regulation violation attorneys, we can look for evidence that the regulations were violated. Furthermore, we will want to prove that the violation is what caused or contributed to the truck accident.

Proof of trucking regulation violations might be found in:

• Internal communications from the trucking company
• Electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) data
• Trucking company safety records
• Statements given by the truck driver at the scene of the crash

Discuss Your Legal Options with Fulmer Sill Today

Every detail counts when building an injury claim after a truck accident. Let Fulmer Sill in Oklahoma City look into the circumstances of your crash to see if an important safety regulation was violated by the truck driver or trucking company. By standing up for your rights and pursuing compensation, we could help you get your life back together; holding negligent trucking companies liable for safety violations can also help make the roads of Oklahoma safer for everyone.