Trucking Regulations
Commercial trucks are subject to strict federal and state regulations. In some scenarios, an individual hurt in a wreck may be able to prove a truck driver was at fault due to their failure to comply with these regulations. For example, the state of Connecticut has passed laws limiting the size of commercial vehicles allowed on roadways. The General Statues of Connecticut § 14-262 stipulates any vehicle with a trailer cannot exceed a width of 102 inches, including the vehicle’s load. Similarly, state laws prohibit the height of any vehicle, including the vehicle’s load, from exceeding 13 and a half feet.
The federal government has a variety of regulations applicable to commercial drivers in Connecticut as well. For example, 49 CFR § 395.3 provides that a truck driver may not operate a vehicle without first being off-duty for at least 10 hours, nor may they operate a vehicle for more than 14 consecutive hours without taking another break of at least 10 hours. These regulations exist to prevent fatigued driving and set appropriate rest periods for long-haul truckers.
An attorney in South Windsor with expertise in how trucking regulations relate to accidents could help someone harmed in an accident determine who was at fault—even if it was not apparent at the scene.