Truck accidents in Cleveland are often among the most serious collisions which occur. When an accident happens and a victim sustains injuries, the victim of the truck accident needs to understand what his rights are to pursue an injury case. One of the most important things which truck crash victims need to be aware of is there are federal rules which can affect how their case is resolved.
Federal Rules Affect Truck Accident Victim’s Rights
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) affect many aspects of how trucking companies are operated and of how trucking companies do their jobs. These regulations address truck maintenance, driver qualifications, loading requirements, truck inspection requirements, and even the number of hours which truckers can be on duty before needing to take a rest. The rules are safety regulations intended to protect motorists and prevent truck crashes.
This matters because when safety regulations are violated, this can create a presumption of negligence. In a typical injury case when a car accident happens, victims have the legal burden of proving their crash was caused by another driver’s negligence if the victim wishes to recover compensation for losses. Victims may have to convince a jury about what a reasonable driver would have done, and then show how the driver fell short. When a safety rule is violated and a presumption of negligence is created, however, then the victim only has to convince the jury about the breached safety rule to show the other driver should be held liable.
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