Truck Accident Lawyer in Morehead City

Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries, leaving victims to deal with mounting medical expenses and emotional trauma. The truck accident lawyers at Ward and Smith are here to provide the support and legal representation you need in Morehead City. We’ll investigate your case thoroughly and work to hold negligent parties accountable. Contact us at (919) 827-8475 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

How Federal Rules Can Affect the Outcome of a Truck Accident Claim

Truck accidents often lead to serious injuries and complex legal claims. These crashes involve more than just the drivers. They can include large trucking companies, maintenance crews, and insurance providers. Federal laws also play a role in proving fault and determining liability.

If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving a commercial truck in or near Morehead City, understanding how federal regulations affect your case can make a real difference. These rules can determine who was at fault, how much evidence is available, and even whether safety violations contributed to the wreck.

Trucking Is Regulated at the Federal Level

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the standards that govern the trucking industry across the United States. The goal is to reduce crashes and improve road safety. These regulations apply to drivers, trucking companies, and vehicles used in interstate commerce.

Some of the key areas the FMCSA oversees include:

How long drivers can stay on the road without rest
How trucks are inspected and maintained
How loads are secured
How driver qualifications are verified
How alcohol and drug testing is handled

Each of these areas plays a part in preventing accidents. When these rules are ignored, the risk of serious crashes goes up.

Hours of Service and Driver Fatigue

One of the most common issues in truck accidents is driver fatigue. Federal law limits how long a trucker can drive before taking a break. These limits are known as Hours of Service (HOS) rules.

Currently, truck drivers are generally allowed to:

Drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
Not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty
Take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time

If a driver pushes past these limits, they’re breaking the rules, which can be used as evidence if the crash involved drowsy driving. In some cases, companies pressure drivers to meet tight deadlines, encouraging them to skip breaks or drive too long.

Logbooks, electronic logging devices (ELDs), and fuel receipts can help determine whether HOS rules were followed.

Vehicle Maintenance and Safety Inspections

Commercial trucks must be maintained regularly and pass safety inspections. Federal rules require trucking companies to:

Perform regular inspections of brakes, tires, lights, and more
Keep maintenance records for each vehicle
Make sure any mechanical issues are repaired before a truck is sent back on the road

If a truck has faulty brakes or worn tires and causes a crash, investigators will check whether the company failed to follow maintenance regulations. Poor maintenance is a common factor in serious accidents.

Load Limits and Cargo Securement

Overloaded or poorly secured cargo can be dangerous. Federal rules outline how cargo should be loaded, tied down, and distributed to avoid shifting during transit. Violations of these rules can lead to rollovers, jackknife crashes, and spilled cargo on highways.

Investigators often review shipping documents and inspection reports to see whether cargo rules were followed. If not, the shipping company or loader may be partially liable.

Driver Licensing and Qualifications

Truck drivers must hold a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). In addition, they are required to meet health and safety standards. The FMCSA also regulates drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers.

Employers must conduct background checks and ensure their drivers are trained, licensed, and safe to operate heavy vehicles. If a company puts an unqualified or unsafe driver behind the wheel, it can be held responsible for any resulting accident.

How These Regulations Affect Your Claim

Violations of federal rules can play a major role in a personal injury claim. If a truck driver or their employer broke the law and that led to the crash, this may serve as strong evidence of negligence.

For example:

If the driver exceeded legal driving hours and fell asleep at the wheel, that’s a clear rule violation.
If a truck had mechanical issues that should have been fixed, the maintenance team may share fault.
If an unlicensed driver caused the crash, the company that hired them could face serious legal consequences.

In each of these scenarios, the violation helps establish fault and strengthens your claim for compensation.

Collecting Evidence to Prove Violations

Proving that federal regulations were broken takes more than just suspicion. It requires evidence. A personal injury attorney can help collect and review important documents such as:

Electronic logging device records
Maintenance and inspection reports
Driver qualification files
Black box (event data recorder) information
Police crash reports
Witness statements

Some of this information may be held by the trucking company. That’s why acting quickly is important. If evidence is lost or destroyed, it may hurt your case.

Why These Cases Are Often Complex

Truck accident claims are rarely straightforward. They often involve multiple parties, such as:

The truck driver
The trucking company
The cargo shipper
The vehicle maintenance team
The manufacturer (if a defective part played a role)

Each party may try to avoid blame. Insurance companies may downplay the extent of the violations. That’s why having a lawyer who understands federal trucking rules is important. They can untangle the facts and hold the right people accountable.

Secure Justice with a Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents often result in life-altering injuries, but you have the right to seek justice. The truck accident attorneys at Ward and Smith are here to help you pursue compensation and hold negligent parties accountable. Call (919) 827-8475 for a free consultation, and let us assist you in taking the next step toward recovery.