On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | July 11, 2024 | Truck Accident Injuries
Commercial drivers are professional drivers, which means they’re held to more exacting safety standards than the rest of us are. Not every commercial driver, however, takes this responsibility as seriously as they should, and sometimes, the commercial enterprise behind the driver shares fault or bears complete responsibility for the accident at hand. If you have suffered an injury due to the negligence of a commercial driver or entity, an experienced West Palm Beach commercial vehicle accident attorney is well prepared to help.
The Commercial Driver’s Responsibility
Commercial drivers are generally required to carry a commercial driver’s license and to follow all the traffic laws, which include hours of service regulations – for over-the-road commercial drivers, such as truckers – that are designed to limit the dangerous effects of drowsy driving.
When a commercial driver engages in common forms of driver negligence, it greatly increases the risk that accidents will happen. Consider the following:
- Distraction – A distraction can capture a driver’s attention, which means they are not fully focused on safely navigating the road ahead. Commercial drivers often need to make frequent stops, such as for deliveries, and in the process, there is no room for distraction.
- Excess Speed – Driving too fast makes deadly accidents more likely and ensures that drivers have less time to react safely to shifts in traffic patterns. Commercial drivers have a job to do, and this often means they have deadlines to meet, but picking up speed to hit their marks isn’t a safe approach.
- Impairment – The law has no tolerance for commercial drivers who are impaired by either alcohol or drugs.
- Failure to Follow the Rules of the Road – Traffic rules apply to everyone, and this includes commercial drivers. While commercial vehicles are often larger than the cars we drive, this does not mean that commercial drivers can take advantage of their size as a means of ignoring the rules.
The Company behind the Commercial Driver
Commercial drivers generally drive for commercial enterprises, and these companies can bear considerable responsibility for any accidents their drivers are involved in. Basic categories of responsibility include:
- Maintaining a safe fleet of commercial vehicles
- Hiring safe, experienced commercial drivers
- Implementing a regular maintenance and safety check schedule that helps to ensure every vehicle is roadworthy on every leg of every trip
- Ensuring that safe loading practices are employed
- Strictly enforcing all hours of service regulations
Turn to an Experienced West Palm Beach Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney for the Help You Need
If you’ve suffered an injury because of the negligence of a commercial driver, the commercial enterprise that employs them, or both, the accomplished commercial vehicle accident attorneys at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa – proudly serving West Palm Beach – have a wealth of experience guiding challenging claims like yours toward favorable conclusions that uphold our clients’ best interests. Learn more about what we can do to help you by contacting us online or calling 561-478-2500 today.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
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