Poorly trained truck drivers pose a significant risk to other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Without proper commercial driver training, truckers may make mistakes that lead to serious crashes and leave victims with fatal or catastrophic injuries. Surviving victims often find themselves with extensive medical bills and the inability to work because of their injuries. However, with the help of an experienced truck accident attorney in Albany, they can seek the compensation they deserve.
If you suffered injuries in an Albany truck accident, contact the personal injury lawyers of Parker Trial Law for a free consultation about your case. Our firm has been dedicated to representing victims with serious injuries since 2016 and always prepares for trial from the outset. Our efforts have resulted in several six- and seven-figure awards for accident victims, including $1.46 million for a semi-truck wreck. Our clients say we’re a “trustworthy and knowledgeable group” who “acknowledge every detail and are very thorough with the process.” If you need a law firm with experience handling high-stakes cases and that treats its clients like family, you need Parker Trial Law.
How an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Can Fight for Damages
The compensation available to truck accident victims can be for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability accommodations, and other losses. An Albany truck accident attorney helps victims pursue this compensation in the following critical ways:
- Collecting Evidence – To prove that a truck driver’s improper training contributed to the collision, truck accident attorneys gather various types of evidence, including crash scene photographs, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, the trucker’s logbook, and the trucker’s driving record.
- Identifying Liable Parties – Your Albany truck accident lawyer will identify all parties liable for your injuries using the evidence they collected. These parties may include the truck driver, the company that negligently hired an unqualified driver, or even the third-party commercial driver’s license (CDL) testing company that passed an improperly trained driver.
- Hiring Expert Witnesses – Sometimes, expert witnesses are crucial in proving the role of inadequate driver training in accidents. These experts may be former CDL skills test proctors or other trucking industry veterans who can explain how improper training contributed to the accident.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies – Truck accident lawyers know how to handle the truck driver’s and trucking company’s insurers during settlement negotiations. They will prevent you from being tricked into accepting a lowball settlement offer.
- Representing You in Court – If the insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement, your attorney will take your truck accident claim to trial and seek the maximum compensation by presenting all the evidence they collected.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Commercial Truck Driver?
Applicants must meet specific state and federal regulations to become a commercial truck driver. However, the state regulations a driver must meet depend on the state they live in. This means that a driver from a state with more lax regulations can still pass through Albany and cause an accident.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) outlines the federal regulations truckers must meet before acquiring their CDL. These regulations include:
- Commercial Learner’s Permit – The first step is to get a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), which lets truckers operate on public roads with a qualified CDL holder in the cab with them. To get this permit, the trucker must pass knowledge exams, a physical, and a driving record check for the past 10 years.
- Entry-Level Driver Training – The second step is to complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) program. The program is only required for truckers applying for a Class A or B CDL for the first time, upgrading from a Class B to a Class A CDL, or getting a special endorsement. Truckers who obtained their CDL and endorsements before February 7, 2022, do not have to complete this program.
- Commercial Driver’s License Skills Test – The third and final step is to pass the CDL skills test, which involves a vehicle inspection test, basic controls test, and road test. Truckers can take this test after having a CLP for only 14 days and completing the ELDT.
Considering a driver can go from having no commercial truck experience to having a CDL in a matter of weeks, it’s clear that many truckers may not have the training needed to operate these large vehicles safely.
How Inadequate Training Causes Accidents
Understanding how inadequate training leads to collisions is essential for recovering the compensation you need and deserve. Some of the most common reasons commercial truck improper training accidents in Albany occur include:
- Driving Too Fast for Road Conditions – Speeding doesn’t only happen when drivers exceed the posted limits. Even if a truck driver is going below the posted limit, traveling too fast for poor road conditions like heavy rain, fog, or steep declines can increase the odds of a serious crash.
- Violating FMCSA Regulations – The FMCSA has hours-of-service regulations that all truckers must follow. These regulations outline how long a trucker can be on the road without a break. Improperly trained drivers may violate these regulations and drive while fatigued, increasing the chances of an accident.
- Improper Braking Techniques – Poorly trained truck drivers may not know proper braking techniques for different road conditions, making rear-end and jackknife accidents more likely. Jackknife accidents often occur when truckers slam on the brakes and their trailer swings out alongside the cab.
- Unsafe Turning Practices – Without proper training, truck drivers may make unsafe turns. For example, they may try to turn without enough space at tight intersections, causing collisions with vehicles in other lanes. Truckers may also take sharp turns too quickly and cause rollover accidents.
- Inadequate Blind Spot Awareness – Commercial trucks have large blind spots, commonly called no-zones. Experienced truckers are aware of these zones and how they can hide pedestrians and other vehicles. However, an inexperienced trucker may not exercise due caution when driving and harm someone in the no-zones.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Were you injured by an improperly trained commercial truck driver in Albany, Georgia? Contact the inadequate truck driver training accident lawyers of Parker Trial Law for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options for seeking the compensation you deserve, and answer any questions you have about the legal process.
