Truck companies must remember that federal rules and regulations exist to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, including the truck driver, other motorists and pedestrians.
Columbia, SC (PRWEB) January 21, 2014
Commenting on a report about a pair of trucking company shutdowns within the state, South Carolina truck accident lawyer Chad McGowan of McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC said aggressive government action is necessary if trucking companies are in violation of federal rules and regulations.
McGowan today commented on a report in FleetOwner (“FMCSA shuts down two South Carolina trucking operations,” January 2). According to FleetOwner, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ordered the immediately shutdown of two Waterboro, S.C-based trucking operations on the basis that they “represented imminent hazards” to public safety.
“It’s imperative that trucking companies follow state and federal regulations designed to keep everyone using the roads safe from harm. Such regulations include hours-of-service limits, the hiring of licensed drivers, and maintaining logs of routine inspections and scheduled maintenance on all vehicles,” McGowan said. “At McGowan, Hood & Felder, we have first-hand experience with victims of serious accidents that occurred because companies decided to cut corners. Government intervention is sometimes necessary to prevent tragedies from happening.”
According to the FleetOwner report, the FMCSA opened an investigation into the trucking companies after a fatal truck crash in Virginia in November 2013. State Police charged the South Carolina-based truck driver with allegedly driving without a license, reckless driving, possession of alcohol and other alleged violations.
The FleetOwner report stated that upon further investigation, the FMCSA found that the truck company failed to enforce hours-of-service limits, regulate the use of controlled substances such as alcohol, keep updated driver records, and routinely inspect, maintain or repair its fleet of vehicles.
“Truck companies must remember that federal rules and regulations exist to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, including the truck driver, other motorists and pedestrians,” McGowan said. “A failure to comply with these important rules and regulations can have serious consequences for the trucking company. While rule violations can result in a suspension of a license or the shutdown of a trucking company, it also can lead to serious accidents involving injuries and fatalities.”
McGowan said attorneys can help those injured in trucking accidents and families who lost loved ones pursue compensation. He said a lawyer can help hold the negligent company accountable and send a message that careless behavior will not be tolerated on South Carolina roads.
About McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC
McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC has a well-earned reputation for being an experienced South Carolina personal injury law firm that delivers results. With offices in Anderson, Columbia, Rock Hill and Sumter, the law firm handles a range of cases throughout South Carolina, including truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, nursing home abuse, nursing home neglect, construction accidents, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs, dangerous medical devices and more. The law firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means clients only pay attorney fees if there is a successful verdict or settlement.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, call (888) 572-3800 for a free consultation. You can also complete the online contact form.
McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC
1517 Hampton St.
Columbia, SC 29201
http://www.mcgowanhood.com/
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