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Contact our Atlanta, Georgia semi-tractor trailer accident attorneys below if you have questions about interstate motor carriers, truck accident claims, or to schedule a case consultation and evaluation.
Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC
3399 Peachtree Road N.E.
Suite 325
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 591-1800 or toll free (877) 591-1801
Fax: (404) 591-1801
Brachial Plexus Injury - $3.25 million
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Leg Fracture - $350,000
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Soft Tissue - $350,000
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Elbow Fracture - Confidential Amount
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Our Truck Accident Attorneys Understand Trucking Law and Federal Regulations
At Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC, our Atlanta, Georgia semi-tractor trailer accident attorneys have numerous years of experience handling truck accident cases and understand the interplay between federal and state regulations governing commercial motor vehicles. Referring attorneys often associate with our firm to handle complex personal injury or wrongful death trucking cases throughout the Southeast. We enjoy the opportunity to work with other lawyers on these cases and part of our motivation in publishing Understanding Motor Carrier Claims, Second Edition, was to help provide insight to other practitioners in this area of law. The biggest mistake a lawyer can make is treating a trucking case like a typical automobile accident case. Injured victims deserve to be represented by a firm that understands and appreciates the complexities of trucking law.
The table of contents below is intended for easy navigation. Each link will bring you to a chapter summary. To read the chapter in its entirety, you can open the PDF at the bottom of each page of this website, or you can peruse the entire book, Understanding Motor Carrier Claims. If you have any questions and would like to speak with our Atlanta, Georgia semi-tractor trailer attorneys, contact Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC today.
Table of Contents
- The Basics of Interstate Motor Carriers
- Theories of Liability
- Driver Qualifications
- Alcohol and Controlled Substances Testing
- Hours of Service Regulations
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
- Insurance Coverage
- Handling a Trucking Case
I. The Basics of Interstate Motor Carriers
There are two kinds of motor carriers: (1) interstate carriers and (2) intrastate carriers. Interstate carriers provide services across state borders and are required to register with the Secretary of Transportation. Intrastate carriers operate entirely within one state and are exempt from federal regulations governing carriers. However, many states have adopted the federal regulations as applicable to intrastate carriers. Determining how these regulations may apply to a carrier's operations is critical to performing an accurate analysis of a trucking claim.
** Practice Pointer **
If a motor carrier operates as an intrastate carrier, review state laws to determine the applicability of federal regulations to the carrier's operations.
A. Federal Registration
All interstate motor carriers must:
- Register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Get a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number
- Obtain operating authority from the FMCSA
- File an identification report with FMCSA
- Mark each commercial vehicle with the name of the motor carrier and USDOT number
Furthermore, motor carriers must comply with:
- Secretary of Transportation and Surface Transportation Board regulations
- Any safety regulations or fitness requirements imposed by the secretary
- The minimum financial responsibility requirements
- Register and pay all fees to a single participating "home state"
** Practice Pointer **
Send a public records request directly to the state Public Service Commission or a similar body to obtain a copy of any filings with the carrier's "home state."
B. Safety Fitness Ratings
Interstate carriers are required to meet minimum safety standards to reduce the risks associated with:
- A commercial driver's license standard violations
- Inadequate levels of financial responsibility
- The use of unqualified drivers
- Improper use and driving of motor vehicles
- Unsafe vehicles operating on highways
- Failure to maintain accident registers and copies of accident reports
- The use of fatigued drivers
- Inadequate inspection, repair, and maintenance of vehicles
- Improper transportation of hazardous materials
- Motor vehicle accidents and hazardous materials incidents
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) performs annual compliance reviews.
** Practice Pointer **
Review the carrier's profile rating on www.safersys.org for safety deficiencies and other information.
Download full chapter: I. The Basics of Interstate Motor Carriers
Next chapter >> II. Theories of Liability
Contact Our Atlanta, Georgia Semi-Tractor Trailer Accident Attorneys
If you have questions about the basics of interstate motor carrier claims or if you have been involved in a truck collision and are seeking representation, contact the Atlanta, Georgia semi-tractor trailer accident attorneys at Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC today. We boast an impressive track record of successful verdicts and settlements. We can help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.