If you are a truck owner or driver, you don’t need a Florida truck accident lawyer to tell you that driving a truck offers quite a different experience from other road vehicles; you likely already know that. For starters, trucks are much bigger than other vehicles you will find on the road, and they are also more complex to maneuver.
Above all, trucking laws are often more complicated than other traffic laws. This is especially true in states like Florida, where the roads are always busy and more than a few trucks pass by. Not to mention that truck accidents can be devastating and even more traumatic than other traffic accidents.
Of course, this means you will have to learn and familiarize yourself with the various Florida trucking regulations before driving a truck. Luckily, though, a Florida truck accident lawyer can help you overcome this challenge, and we will show you how in this article.
Understanding Trucking Regulations
Let’s face the fact: many people just learn how to drive trucks, get the necessary certifications, and hit the road. But there should be more. You need to understand trucking regulations in order to ensure you don’t get into trouble breaking any. Florida, for instance, has laws that are meant to keep commercial motor vehicle operators safe. These laws are typically enforced by the Florida Highway Patrol Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (OCVE).
Unfortunately, violation of federal and state regulations, whether intentionally or unintentionally, constitutes negligence. In the event that the violation leads to an accident, a truck driver may be held responsible for their negligence. A Florida truck accident lawyer not only educates you about the regulations but also stands by you all through until they’ve defended your case if you’ve broken any. Some of the regulations every truck driver should know include:
- Size and weight restrictions: most roads have size and weight restrictions that drivers must know before driving on them. For example, Florida law places a size limit of 75 feet and a height limit of 13 feet 6 inches on most of its roads.
- Time restriction: as expected, the law has restrictions on the number of hours a truck driver can drive consecutively without rest. The general rule limits drivers to 10 hours of consecutive driving when carrying passengers and 11 hours of consecutive driving when carrying cargo. Please note that Florida law also places restrictions on the amount of hours a driver can be on duty in a 6-8-day period.
Other regulations
Among the many aspects of commercial motor driving that are regulated by Florida law include:
- Distracted driving
- Alcohol and drug testing
- Following and passing
- Convoy and escort vehicles
- Driver qualifications
- Noise emissions
- Vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair.
Duties of a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer
Now that we’ve talked so much about truck accident regulations and how strict they can be, you’re probably wondering how to navigate them. It’s easier when you have the proper guidance, and this is where an experienced Florida truck accident lawyer comes in handy. Let’s briefly review some of the duties of a Florida truck accident lawyer as far as helping you navigate complex truck regulations are concerned.
1. Keeps you informed about changing road regulations
Road regulations are constantly changing, and you must stay updated on them or face the consequences of breaking them. Unfortunately, ignorance of the law doesn’t exonerate you. A Florida truck accident lawyer does not only help you get through truck accident cases. They will also update you on changes so you don’t get into unnecessary issues. This is why we always advise truck drivers to hire truck accident lawyers even though they’ve not been involved in an accident.
2. Training and education
Learning how to drive a truck doesn’t stop at mastering controls and getting certifications. You must also know the actual regulations and what they mean. Road regulations differ across states, so you must learn what’s applicable in Florida if you’ve just moved. Truck accident lawyers know this as the first step to avoiding an accident and all the liabilities that come with it. Thus, they’ll thoroughly educate you on the rules and all the punishment that comes with breaking any. They’ll also teach hacks to get out of potential problems.
3. Helps you find loopholes to get out of potential problems
Truck accidents can be devastating because they leave your truck with many damages that are expensive to fix. Add that to the hefty compensations the other party may demand, and you can tell that you’ll be in for the long run. But you don’t have to pay all the compensation demanded, especially when they become outrageous and insensitive.
An experienced Florida truck accident lawyer can help to negotiate compensations to reasonable amounts. Beyond that, they can also find loopholes that will significantly pull down compensation amounts. Not all accidents are entirely your fault, even though it may look like it on the surface. A road accident attorney will thoroughly research your case to ensure you’re not paying for another person’s fault.
4. Continuous consultation
If you ever get confused about any road regulations or their interpretations, don’t forget to call your Florida truck accident lawyer. Truck accident lawyers understand all state and federal laws. They’re always available to explain the laws and their application to you. So, you should have the number of your Florida truck accident lawyer on speed dial for moments when you’ll need a detailed interpretation of a complex regulation.
Coleman Law Group Can Help You
Learning how to drive a commercial motor vehicle and getting applicable certifications is only the first step to pursuing your trucking company dreams. You must also know all applicable regulations. The experienced Florida truck accident lawyers at Coleman Law Group are well-grounded in road regulations. So, beyond providing representation in case of an accident, we can also help you navigate complex Florida regulations. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.