There are many similarities between car accidents and commercial truck accidents as far as bodily injuries are concerned. That said, there are also many differences. You’re going to learn what these are.

Any driver who drives a commercial truck is considered to be a professional driver from the standpoint of personal injury law. That’s why they have to go to trucking school and get a different driver’s license. Keep in mind that because commercial trucks are huge, even a small accident can result in major and permanent bodily injuries and disabilities. That’s why they have to follow extra rules when driving. They are designed to protect drivers and the general public.

Truck drivers also can only spend a certain number of hours driving each week. This measure was implemented to prevent accidents resulting from (truck) driver fatigue. Some drivers fudge their driving logs to get around this requirement.

Truck drivers must also submit to a medical exam every two years. This is to ensure that truck drivers remain in good enough health to be able to drive safely. All truck drivers must also submit to regular drug tests. Driving under the influence is illegal because it can impair their ability to drive safely, as per Personal Injury Lawyer in Fort Erie. They understand that providing evidence becomes important and that is why they recommend that if you are able to take pictures of the scene of the accident, it will become evidence. Other evidence includes medical and police reports.

Trucking companies are supposed to ensure that their drivers have good driving records before hiring them. It’s these companies’ responsibility to train these drives adequately to make sure that they can drive safely before putting them behind a truck. Additionally, they are required to drive safely, get rest and ensure that fatigue does not set in so only a standard number of hours are assigned.

Many trucking companies, as personal injury lawyers know all too well, don’t follow these rules to the T. The result often is many (unnecessary) trucking accidents. They also often fail to make sure that their drivers always conform to the more stringent driving rules that are in place because of the larger, and hence, more dangerous nature, of their vehicles.

Commercial truckers are also held to something called respondeat superior. This is a rule that states that truck drivers’ employers are responsible for the damage and accidents that their drivers cause while on the job. It is vital that you talk with a personal injury lawyer to know your rights and get the compensation that you are entitled to.