Many residents of Cary, North Carolina, may have heard the term "pain and suffering" discussed in the context of a lawsuit pertaining to a commercial vehicle accident or some other personal injury lawsuit.
How much insurance must business vehicles carry?
People in Cary, North Carolina, and the surrounding Raleigh metro area will probably know that, if they want to drive a car, they have to carry a minimum amount of insurance that will cover all or part of another person's injuries. The minimum insurance requirement protects North Carolina citizens from negligent motorists by making sure that all drivers have some means of paying compensation should they cause an accident.
Getting compensation for drunk or buzzed drivers
Last week’s post on this blog discussed how commercial drivers are held to higher standards with respect to how much alcohol they can have in their systems. One of the reasons for these higher standards is that commercial vehicles are typically larger than private cars and can therefore inflict more damage in a truck accident or commercial vehicle accident.
Commercial drivers face tougher DUI regulations
Many North Carolina residents already know that driving while drunk or drugged is illegal in this state. It is also an extremely dangerous thing to do, especially if one is driving a large truck or other type of commercial vehicle.
Holding tired or distracted commercial drivers accountable
Last week's post on this blog discussed how a commercial driver who experiences sleep apnea can easily become dangerous both to any passengers he or she is transporting and to other motorists on the road. A driver with sleep apnea is more likely than another driver to be experiencing exhaustion since he or she will not ordinarily get quality sleep at night.
How does sleep apnea affect your driving?
In a previous entry, this blog explored common causes of motor vehicle accidents, citing distractions of any kind as one of the top culprits. However, a major hindrance to safe driving, especially in drivers of commercial vehicles, originates in reduced alertness and tiredness as a result of sleep apnea.
Legal options after a North Carolina commercial vehicle accident
While it is true that a large number of North Carolina commercial vehicles, such as large trucks, mainly drives on highways or industrial roads, it is important not to ignore the fact that there are various types of commercial vehicles that also drive within city limits. For example, it is common for delivery trucks, garbage trucks and other such commercial vehicles to drive in residential areas. Occasionally, other commercial automobiles, such as construction vehicles, dump trucks and cement trucks also move through residential areas.
Points to remember about the revocation of a driver's license
Drivers of commercial vehicles in North Carolina should be aware of the rules regarding revocation of a driver's license. The Motor Vehicles Division has the authority to revoke the driver's license of a person if that person has been convicted of a certain listed offense. If a driver has been convicted of manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle, the same offense may lead to the revocation of the driver's license. Apart from that, if the driver is found to be driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug, the division has the right to revoke that person's the driver's license.
Liability in the event of a North Carolina tour bus accident
Many tourists visit North Carolina's attractions and beautiful countryside every year, and oftentimes they come in large groups that hire tour buses to explore the various points of interest found in the state. A tour bus involved in an accident can be damaging on many fronts, because out-of-state victims may not know state motor vehicle laws or who to contact in case of an accident. Tour buses, much like any other large vehicle, can cause greater destruction in the event of accident as opposed to smaller personal vehicles.
What are the steps for getting a CDL in North Carolina?
Residents of North Carolina understand that driving a commercial vehicle requires different skills than driving a non-commercial vehicle. Because of their sheer size, a commercial vehicle accident, delivery truck accident or a garbage truck accident is more likely to result in severe injuries, or even death, than a non-commercial vehicle accident.