Truck Accident Lawyers

Causes of Truck Accidents: Bad Weather

Mother Nature has been known, from time to time, to punish the nation with awful snowstorms, torrential downpours, fog, sleet, tornados, thunderstorms, and all manner of awful weather. Unfortunately, it is not possible to find Mother Nature at fault for a truck accident; however, it is possible to hold a truck driver accountable for not slowing down in poor weather conditions. In addition, it is also possible to hold a trucking company responsible for not permitting its drivers to stop or to slow down in awful weather.

The United States Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR Section 392.14) dictates that truck drivers must exercise extreme caution when operating commercial motor vehicles when hazardous conditions, including snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, have an adverse effect on visibility or traction. Then this is true, the Code requires drivers to reduce their speed. In addition, when the weather or conditions get too bad, the driver is expected to stop operating his or her vehicle until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated.

Unfortunately, the code does not actually define what constitutes weather conditions that are too bad for driving. This allows truck drivers a lot of wiggle room and allows the trucking company to tell its employees to keep going.

Because of this loophole, truck drivers are sometimes fired for refusing to operate their vehicle. The Surface Transportation Assistance Act prohibits this. When a truck driver is fired, he or she can go to the Department of Labor to file a complaint.

If you have been the victim of an accident in which a truck accident and poor driving conditions played a factor, please contact the truck accident attorneys of Williams Kherkher at 1-800-220-9341 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.