Do you experience a rush of anxiety when a semi-truck approaches in your rear-view mirror? Are you nervous when you find yourself directly behind a truck and can’t see around it?
Every driver shares the road with semi-trucks, and every truck driver needs to follow the same traffic rules as everyone else. In fact, truck drivers must comply with numerous rules and regulations to maintain a safe driving record.
Being involved in a truck accident can be especially complex due to the numerous potential liable parties. Assigning blame might not be limited to just the driver. There could also be a fault with the trucking company, mechanics, and cargo loaders. That is why you should discuss what happened with an experienced Albuquerque truck accident attorney.
Every driver has a duty of care to follow the rules of the road, but in New Mexico, truck drivers often fail to fulfill that duty. According to data collected by the National Safety Council, New Mexico is among the top five states with the highest percentage of large trucks involved in fatal crashes.
This is another reason why drivers need to report any truck or trucking company that’s violating the rules.
What to Watch Out For
You must pay attention to all the drivers in your immediate vicinity, especially truck drivers. The following driving behavior is what you should look out for
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
You might not be able to tell if a truck driver is legally intoxicated, but you can observe reckless driving behavior that can be associated with a DUI. If a truck driver weaves in and out of lanes or drives too slowly, there may be some issues that need to be reported.
Reckless Driving
A truck driver does not have to be under the influence to drive recklessly. A truck driver who is speeding, changing lanes without signaling, and not checking blind spots is being reckless.
Distracted Driving
If you happen to drive past a truck driver and observe them using their cellphone, that is considered distracted driving.
Unsecured Cargo
A truck either has an open trailer or a closed container. You might see that on an open trailer, the cargo is loose and shifting in the truck. There are also instances where a container door could swing open, allowing cargo to spill out. That also needs to be reported.
How to Report a Trucking Company
Before reporting a truck, gather as much detail as possible. This might be a challenge if you’re driving while making a report. It is essential to know the trucking company’s name, the truck’s license plate number, and the location and time of the incident.
Here are your reporting options:
911
If what you observe is an immediate threat on the road, you should call 911 to report what is happening. You should also steer clear of an erratic truck.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains the regulations for the trucking industry. You can call FMCSA 888-DOT-SAFT (368-7238) to report a trucking company or truck driver.
National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB)
The National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) is a part of FMCSA. From their website, the NCCBD states that it might take 15 minutes to file a complaint, and that the complaint can be used for the following:
- The FMCSA uses filed complaints to help determine which companies to investigate, and these complaints will become part of a company’s permanent record.
- Complaints may be used for research purposes.
- The FMCSA may contact you for additional information if further action is deemed necessary.
New Mexico Department of Transportation Regulation Bureau
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has a distinct agency for complaints. You can report a trucking company or driver to the Transportation Regulation Bureau.
What Happens After Filing a Complaint?
When a complaint is filed with the FMCSA against a trucking company, it becomes part of the company’s permanent record and could be used as evidence in a future accident claim.
A trucking company’s history plays a vital role in determining liability in an accident. It is just one type of evidence that the attorneys at Barrera Law Group LLC can help gather on behalf of their clients who are the victims of a negligent truck driver and trucking company.
Our attorneys will also obtain copies of crash reports written by the New Mexico state police and the FMCSA. We will also handle all communication with the insurance companies in our quest to find a swift and fair resolution for the accident.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, call for a free consultation to discuss your options.