Truck accidents and car accidents alike can result in serious or even fatal outcomes. The dangers of these two are similar, but the magnitude of a tractor trailer collision can quickly become deadly.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, estimates the number of US trucking accident fatalities to be about 4,000 deaths per year.
Since January 1st of 2015, there was an 82% increase in deaths involving commercial tractor trailers— truck drivers were at fault 37% out of the 82%.
There are many factors that can contribute to trucking accidents:
- Unsafe and outdated equipment
- Poor truck maintenance
- Driver fatigue
- Driver error
- Weather conditions
- Unqualified drivers
With these factors in mind, the U.S. Department of Transportation is revisiting the FMCSA regulations.
The current Safety Fitness Determination has been in place since 1982, but with technology changes and safety violations in the trucking industry, safety guideline changes must occur.
The proposed new rule will replace the current three-tier rating system: satisfactory, conditional and unsatisfactory. This new regulation will change to one determination as “unfit”. If a motor carrier rates as unfit, the carrier must cease operations or improve operations before getting back on the road.
How will this new regulation be beneficial for our roadways?
According to the FMCSA, the current rating system only allows the association to evaluate 15,000 carriers a year and less than half receive an evaluated rating. As an attorney that handles trucking accidents, I find this number to be astonishing!
By implementing the new SFD rule, more trucking companies will be thoroughly evaluated as road-fit or unfit and in turn, may drastically decrease the number of unsafe truck drivers, unsafe equipment, and the overall number of trucking accidents.
As long as there are unsafe trucks on the road, I will be here to fight for you and your loved ones. If you were injured in a trucking accident, call me today.
As your Ohio trucking accident attorney, I’ll be there for you and I’ll Make Them Pay! ®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities.” You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.