Truckers in Hazardous Weather Required to Stop and Use “Extreme Caution”
When weather conditions affecting visibility or traction turn dangerous, truckers are supposed to stop their rig until the weather clears. There is a federal law standard of “extreme caution” versus a state standard of “ordinary care” required of interstate commercial truckers. If truckers do not follow this federal standard, then they and the companies who hire them should be held responsible for any serious injury or wrongful death they cause.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, 49 C.F.R. § 392.14 mandates:
Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist. If conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated. Whenever compliance with the foregoing provisions of this rule increases hazard to passengers, the commercial motor vehicle may be operated to the nearest point at which the safety of passengers is assured.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a tractor trailer accident during bad weather or road conditions, contact the experienced commercial truck accident attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower LLP. Our seasoned trial lawyers are able to help those individual injured in South Carolina and North Carolina. With over 75 years combined legal experience, former insurance defense backgrounds, and a former Registered Nurse (RN), our team is standing by to help get you and your family through this difficult time. For more information, please visit our website at www.rjrlaw.com. Compare our attorneys’ credentials. Then, call us for a private consultation about your particular situation.