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729 Watts Avenue, Pascagoula, Mississippi 39567
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Mississippi Law Firm Serving Victims of Trucking Accidents

Protecting the rights of injured people

Getting into an accident with a big tractor-trailer truck on the highway might be the worst nightmare of automobile drivers everywhere. Catastrophic accidents with one or more fatalities and permanent injuries often result from a collision with a huge truck traveling at highway speeds. At the law firm of Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick, our attorneys help people who have been injured in all kinds of trucking accidents.

What road rules promote safe truck driving?

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Safety Division and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have created rules and regulations governing commercial truck drivers in an effort to protect those on public roads. The safety rules include the following:

  • Ban on handheld cell phones: While drivers of commercial vehicles are prohibited from talking on a handheld cell phone while they are driving, they may use a hands-free wired or wireless earpiece or the speakerphone function on their phones. The FMCSA rules for commercial drivers are very clear: no reaching, no holding, no dialing, no texting and no reading while driving.
  • Rest breaks: Commercial truck drivers are required to take rest breaks every eight hours. There are different regulations for drivers depending on whether they are carrying property or people. There is also a limit to the number of hours a driver may operate on consecutive days. A trucker may not drive after 60 or 70 hours on duty in seven or eight consecutive days.
  • Drug and alcohol testing: Commercial drivers must submit to drug and alcohol tests.
  • Secure cargo on big trucks: To promote road safety, the FMCSA published regulations for securing cargo and set weight limits for commercial trucks.

Commercial truck drivers and trucking companies must abide by these and many other rules designed to maintain road safety.

Despite all the rules and regulations, some truck drivers still drive while they are sleepy, text behind the wheel or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and cause tragic accidents on the highways. If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident, our attorneys at Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Common injuries sustained in 18-wheeler truck accidents

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,921 people were killed in trucking accidents in the United States in 2012, which is 3.7 percent more than in the previous year. The total number of fatalities on U.S. roadways in 2012 was 33,561. The total number of injuries on the roadways was more than 2 million. When you consider the sheer forces at work when a big 18-wheeler truck collides with a passenger car at highway speeds, it is a wonder that anyone survives these accidents. Injuries sustained by trucking accident victims include the following:

  • Internal injuries
  • Cuts and lacerations

When a person is killed in a catastrophic trucking accident, the spouse or immediate family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and economic loss. It is important to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney on your side who is determined to obtain justice on your behalf. At Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick, we are ready to take on your case and seek the fair compensation you and your family deserve.

Contact our experienced trucking accident attorneys today

At Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick, we are dedicated to being advocates for our clients who have been injured in accidents. Contact us online or call us at 866-461-1591 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.