Who Regulates the Trucking Industry in the United States?

In the United States, the trucking industry is regulated by the Department of Transportation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. This act sets the framework for all industry regulations and standards. Notably, this act does not define negligence, meaning somebody can still be negligent and in compliance with the FMCSA. However, proving a truck driver or their employer in Denton were violating federal regulations could be strong evidence of negligence in an ensuing claim.

Insurance Coverage Requirements

The required insurance coverage for a tractor-trailer depends on whether the vehicle hauls exclusively in Texas and what the vehicle is actually hauling. In Texas, a commercial driver of 18 wheelers must maintain minimum of $750,000.00 per incident in liability insurance if the carrier is only driving within the state.  If the carrier is driving as an interstate driver, commercial driver of 18 wheelers must maintain minimum of $1,000,000.00 liability coverage. However, if the freight is considered hazardous, this can increase to a required minimum of $5,000,000.00 liability coverage.

Who Could Be Liable for a Tractor-Trailer Wreck?

In most cases, the truck driver themselves is going to be held liable and their employer’s insurance company with pay for the damages caused by the trucker. However, the trucking company itself can be held liable under direct negligence theories under certain circumstances such as if they did not maintain the truck in accordance with federal regulations, if they were negligent in hiring or in supervising their driver. Last of all, in certain rare situations, the freight broker or shipper who hired the trucking company can be held responsible for hiring a trucking company with a particularly bad driving record. A local truck injury attorney could review the case to determine the correct liable party.

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Discuss Federal Trucking Laws with a Denton Attorney

Commercial drivers are required to uphold state and usually federal trucking laws in Denton and throughout Texas. Failure to do so could be proof of negligence in a civil case. If you believe the truck driver in your case was in violation of federal or local law at the time of your collision, reach out to our team to schedule a free consultation.

Denton Case Types

Get The Help You Need Contact McCraw Law Group

If you are in need of a personal injury attorney in North Texas, please contact the team at McCraw Law Group today. We are ready to help you in a broad range of serious accident and injury legal issues, and offer multiple ways to reach us.

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If you are in need of a personal injury attorney in North Texas, please contact the team at McCraw Law Group today. We are ready to help you in a broad range of serious accident and injury legal issues, and offer multiple ways to reach us.

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