From June 6 to June 8, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance conducted its annual International Roadcheck. The inspection was conducted in New Mexico and throughout the U.S. and Canada. The CSVA says that the purpose of the yearly event is to check for compliance, enforce rules, and educate drivers. Cargo security was among the top priorities this year.
The non-profit organization says that drivers can avoid violations by loads and equipment is properly tied down. They should also make sure that tie-down equipment is not worn or damaged. Drivers may be cited for loads that shift or fall out of the bed in addition to having insufficient or damaged tie-downs. Overall, one truck is inspected every 15 minutes during the inspection blitz, and in 2016, 21.5 percent of trucks inspected were taken out of service as well as slightly more than 3 percent of the drivers.
Accidents involving large trucks can cause serious injuries to occupants of other vehicles in large part because of the sheer size and weight of those big rigs. People who are injured often have to endure lengthy periods of medical care and treatment, and many are unable to return to work while they are recovering.
Many of these types of accidents are due to the negligence of the drivers of the trucks, such as one who is sleep-deprived, impaired by alcohol or drugs, distracted by a cellphone, or speeding. Others are the fault of a trucking company that fails to properly maintain its fleet or train its drivers. When it can be determined that the accident was the fault of another party, an attorney could help an injured victim seek compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and other damages through the filing of a lawsuit.
