How Dangerously Parked Trucks Can Lead to Increased Collisions on The Road
Truck drivers often park their 18-wheelers on the side of the highway and road, assuming that other drivers will see them. Unfortunately, these commercial trucks can catch an unsuspecting motorist off guard. This is especially true during bad weather and at night when visibility is poor. The truck driver and trucking company (in some cases) can be held responsible for the accident even if it was the passenger vehicle that collided with the truck.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision with an illegally-parked truck, you should seek legal advice about your right to compensation. A top-rated truck accident attorney can determine if truckers may have violated regulations, and help you obtain the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
FMCSA Rules for 18-wheeler Parking and Stopping in Mississippi
It is always a dangerous situation to park an 80,000-pound vehicle in the path of cars traveling above 65 mph. This is why Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other federal regulatory agencies have created stringent guidelines for safely parking a commercial motor vehicle. Truck drivers that disregard these laws and result in wrongful death or personal injury can be held liable for their actions.
Big rigs when parked on the shoulder of exit ramps or highways have the legal duty to take certain precautions and make their vehicles visible to other drivers. Whether a truck driver needs to handle an emergency or deal with a mechanical issue, they need to complete mandatory safety precautions. These are:
- Activate the emergency hazard lights immediately
- Place cones, flares, triangles, or other warning signals at a specific distance from the big rig
- Place the warning signals within 10 minutes of stopping
- Take necessary precautions when stopping in residential or business districts, or on one-way and divided roads
- Place warning signals with consideration to obstructions, road curves, and hills at required locations
- Take precautions to avoid flames if there is any leaking flammable liquid
- Follow required protocols for parking during nighttime vs. daylight hours
The illegal or negligent actions of the trucker may be the reason for the accident. In some cases, the driver of the passenger vehicle may be driving distractedly or impaired.
Law enforcement officials generally conduct an investigation to determine exactly what happened. Your legal representative will dig deeper to find evidence corroborating the facts and your side of the story. They will use data, such as police reports, trucking company records, video footage, photographs from the accident scene, truck black box data, and violations of regulations to build a strong lawsuit.
When is a Truck Driver Liable?
In some cases, the truck driver is to blame for the accident. Long-haul trucking is a tiresome and demanding job. Even the most exceptional and cautious drivers can make mistakes because of fatigue. They may cut corners for speeding up delivery times. Such negligent acts or mistakes can be a threat to the lives of others.
These are a few common parking mistakes made by truck drivers on Mississippi highways, which can prove to be a vital contributing factor to the crash:
- Parking without adequate warning lights
- Parking in residential neighborhoods and other prohibited areas
- Parking close to intersection exits
- Parking on the shoulder with a portion of the truck sticking out dangerously on the road
The liability for the accident may lie on the trucking company or solely on the truck driver. You have a greater likelihood of obtaining compensation if the driver violated federal, state, or municipal laws.
Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
Drivers that crash their cars into parked vehicles are usually held liable under ordinary circumstances. Insurance firms may reject damage claims citing careless or rash driving on your part. Based on this, any truck driver that violates the regulations mentioned previously can be held liable for endangering the safety of other motorists.
Negligent parking of semi-trailers can result in severe injuries. You may have a valid case for prosecution and compensation if you were involved in a parked truck accident.
Reputable Truck Accident Attorneys in Mississippi are Ready to Fight for You
Are you the victim of a crash with a parked truck stopped at the side of the highway or road? The services of a skilled truck accident attorney and an accident reconstruction expert can be helpful to build your case. At Gardner Law Firm, we have years of experience in representing clients injured in parked truck accidents and helping them obtain their rightful financial compensation. Schedule your free case review with our lawyers today. Call us at 228-436-6555 or contact us online.
