How the FMCSA Plans to Prevent Truck Accidents in 2023

Florida truck accident lawyers explain what drivers need to know

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to take several steps next year designed to prevent serious commercial truck accidents, according to a recent news article published by Trucking Info.

The changes proposed by the FMCSA "prioritize safety and security, promote innovation, foster a consistent regulatory approach to (automated driving systems) ADS-equipped (commercial motor vehicles) CMVs, and recognize the difference between human operators and ADS," according to the FMCSA's Significant Rulemaking Report issued in September.

Any steps designed to prevent serious truck accidents would be welcome news. Our experienced Florida truck accident attorneys at Pajcic & Pajcic know all too well just how devastating serious truck crashes can be for injury victims and their families.

Proposed truck regulation changes

The FMCSA plans to introduce many new rules and regulations next year governing commercial trucks, including:

• Automatic emergency brakes – The FMCSA wants heavy commercial trucks to be required to be equipped with automatic emergency brakes (AEB) and to standardize AEB systems.
• Advanced safety fitness procedures – This proposal calls for using data and other resources to more effectively "identify unfit motor carriers and to remove them from the nation's roadways."
• Truck speed limiters – This proposal involves equipping trucks that weigh more than 26,000 pounds (including tractor-trailers) with devices that limit the maximum speed.
• Revisions to medical examiner's handbook – This proposal would provide "guidance to MEs (medical examiners) on the physical qualification standards in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the conduct of the physical qualification examination" which is required to maintain a commercial driver's license and operate a commercial motor vehicle, according to Trucking Info. The FMCSA wants to update this handbook since some of the information in the handbook is "obsolete," according to the proposal.
• Consumer complaint information – Commercial truck carriers that transport commercial goods would be required to publish quarterly reports of all complaints received from consumers and shippers.

All of the changes proposed by the FMCSA are subject to public comment and government approval before becoming official.

Why you should hire a Florida truck accident attorney

The FMCSA's efforts to improve highway safety and reduce commercial truck accidents come at a critical time. Despite continued efforts, collisions caused by commercial truck drivers and trucking companies remain a serious problem nationwide. And when these accidents happen, severe injuries and fatalities often occur.

In addition, many truck accident injury claims quickly become complicated legal cases. That's because there are often a lot of different parties involved in such cases, including the truck driver, the trucking company the driver works for, the company that loaded the truck, and all their insurance companies.

Our experienced Jacksonville truck accident lawyers at Pajcic & Pajcic know how to deal with all these companies. As a result, we can help ensure that your injury claim or lawsuit receives the attention it deserves.

We consistently obtain sizable truck accident settlements and verdicts, including a historic $1 billion fatal truck accident verdict we secured for a Florida family. Contact our law firm and schedule a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you. We proudly serve injury victims in Florida and nationwide.