Commercial Truck Driver Qualifications MN Truck Accident Lawyer
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation has established federal regulations that cover commercial truck driver qualifications. These regulations, found at 49 CFR Part 391, were written to prevent commercial truck accidents. The regulations established the following guidelines:
- Prohibit a motor carrier (commercial trucking company, etc.) from permitting an unqualified person to drive a commercial truck.
- Disqualify commercial truck drivers for certain criminal offenses, including driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, transporting illegal drugs, leaving the scene of an accident while operating a commercial motor vehicle, and any felony involving the use of a commercial motor vehicle.
- Require motor carriers to investigate a person’s background before hiring the person to drive a commercial truck or other commercial motor vehicle.
- Require motor carriers to obtain the motor vehicle record of each driver employed once every year.
- Require commercial truck drivers to prepare and furnish a list of all violations of motor vehicle traffic laws and ordinances.
- Require applicants to pass a road test before they can drive a commercial motor vehicle.
- Require truck drivers to be medically certified as physically qualified to drive and have on his or her person a copy of a medical examiner’s certificate.
When pursuing a commercial truck accident lawsuit, violation of any of these regulations or other commercial trucking regulations can be a basis for proving the negligence of a commercial truck driver, trucking company and/or other party. If it is determined that the truck driver or trucking company is more than 51% at fault, personal injury compensation may be sought or a wrongful death claim may be filed.
Commercial Truck Accident Victim Compensation
If you or a loved one has suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal injury, burn injury, amputation or other injury caused by an accident with a commercial truck (18-wheeler, semi, tractor-trailer, etc.), money damages can include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Other losses or expenses
- In some cases (e.g., a drunk driving commercial accident), punitive damages may be awarded.
If a loved one was killed due to the negligence of a commercial truck driver, you may have a claim for wrongful death compensation. In a wrongful death case, other family members may also have compensation available. It depends on the facts of the case and the applicable law.
Wrongful death is a statutory claim, meaning a specific wrongful death statute will govern what compensation is available and to which family members. Minnesota allows for:
- The recovery of lost income the decedent would have provided loved ones.
- Money damages for the loss of advice, care, protection, comfort and companionship the deceased would have provided had he or she lived.
- The recovery of monetary contributions that would have been made and benefits provided by the deceased.
Free Consultation with an Attorney >>>
Our Minnesota personal injury lawyers and commercial truck accident lawyers have decades of experience and a record of success, including a recent settlement for $2,850,000 on behalf of the family of a man who was killed when his vehicle was struck by debris from a truck.
