Home » Blog » Federal Trucking Regulation Violations That Cause Accidents
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Last Modified on May 26, 2026
Accidents involving commercial trucks may not be as common as passenger car accidents, but they are typically far more damaging. While most truck accidents happen for similar reasons as other accidents, it’s important to know the federal trucking regulation violations that cause accidents. If a truck driver and/or their employer violated any such regulations and this caused your accident, this variable could complicate your personal injury claim.
Federal Trucking Regulation Violations That Cause Accidents
The National Safety Council reports that in 2024, there were 120,724 large trucks involved in injury crashes and 5,218 involved in fatal crashes nationwide. The trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country, and all companies that employ commercial truck drivers must follow strict regulations pertaining to their handling of their employees and their commercial vehicles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the primary federal authority responsible for regulating the trucking industry, and all companies that operate within this industry must follow its regulations at all times. Some of the most common federal trucking regulation violations that cause accidents include:
- Hours of service violations. The FMCSA sets strict rules for truck drivers’ work schedules to limit the risk of fatigued driving accidents. For instance, committing hours of service violations can lead to catastrophic collisions. A truck driver may drive for no more than a maximum of 11 hours following ten consecutive hours off duty. If truck drivers violate these rules to shorten delivery times, they put themselves and others at risk. Their employers can face penalties if they do not enforce these rules.
- Improperly secured cargo. The FMCSA provides clear instructions for the proper packing and securing of certain types of cargo. When the party responsible for packing a commercial truck does not do so correctly, the vehicle could be off-balance, and it will be more vulnerable to tipping or rolling over in some situations.
- Driver training and background checks. Trucking companies and other employers must not only perform appropriate background checks on their drivers to ensure they hold proper qualifications, but also ensure they have adequate training to handle their job responsibilities.
These are just a few examples of how federal trucking regulation violations can cause accidents. If you or a loved one is injured in a truck accident, proving fault is likely to be the first step in your recovery process, and both the truck driver and their employer may bear liability for your accident depending on the root cause. For example, an employer can be held vicariously liable for their employee’s actions if the employer contributed to the accident the employee caused.
Claiming Compensation for a Truck Accident
The legal aftermath of a truck accident can be more difficult to navigate than what you could expect following most other vehicle accidents. There are significant differences between car and truck accident claims in California that can impact how you pursue damages. You must not only prove liability for the crash, but also accurately determine the total damages you suffered. You should hire an experienced truck accident lawyer at your first opportunity so they can help you establish liability for your damages.
Recovery may require filing a claim against a commercial auto insurance policy. Most commercial trucks are covered by policies that include more coverage than the average individual driver’s policy, but do not take this to mean that filing your claim will be easy. You should hire a truck accident lawyer to assist you before the insurance company attempts to deny or devalue your claim; your attorney can help you secure a fair settlement offer.
You may need to pursue legal action against a truck driver and/or their employer if any federal trucking industry regulations were violated and this contributed to your case. You should find an attorney who has proven experience handling these cases to represent you. The team at Bentley & More LLP has an extensive record of success with trucking accident cases in California, so reach out to our team and learn more about how we can help with your case.
FAQs
How Do You Prove Fault for a Truck Accident?
Proving fault for a truck accident can be challenging without an attorney’s help. They can secure evidence like the black-box data, trucking company records, witness testimony, police reports, and cell phone data to help you establish liability. It’s important to start gathering the evidence you need as soon as possible, so you should hire a truck accident lawyer to help with your case as soon as you can after the accident.
What Does Vicarious Liability Mean in a Truck Accident Case?
In a truck accident case, vicarious liability means that an employer shares liability for the actions of their employee. This concept is key to understanding trucking company liability for driver negligence in California. For example, if the truck driver caused the accident because they were driving under the influence of alcohol, and a background check would have shown a history of similar offenses, but their employer never ran a background check, the employer would likely be held vicariously liable for their employee’s actions.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Truck Accident?
The amount of compensation you can claim for a truck accident depends on the scope and severity of the damages you suffered. You may have grounds to claim compensation for vehicle repair costs, medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you experienced. In the event your accident resulted from some violation of federal trucking industry regulations, you could also receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion.
Why Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
You should hire a truck accident lawyer because this type of accident case is usually more difficult to resolve than most other vehicle accident claims. Your case may involve complex industry regulations, disputed liability, and extensive damages that you will need an attorney’s help to recover. After you receive medical treatment for your injuries, you should consult a truck accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
The attorneys at Bentley & More LLP have years of proven experience handling a wide range of accident cases for injured clients throughout California, and we know the challenges you might face following a commercial truck accident. We know the federal trucking regulation violations that cause accidents and how to hold trucking companies accountable, so contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney.
About the author: Greg Bentley
Co-Founder & Trial Lawyer at Bentley & More LLP
Greg Bentley is Co-Founder of Bentley & More LLP in Newport Beach, California. With 36 years of experience, he represents plaintiffs in personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, insurance bad faith, dangerous road and property conditions, and construction-site failure cases. Admitted to the State Bar of California, Greg earned his J.D. from Western State University College of Law in 1990. He is a member of several invitation-only trial organizations, including the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is active in multiple statewide and regional trial lawyer associations.
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