Sharing the road with an unsafe driver increases your chance of an accident. Trucking accidents are extremely dangerous because semi trucks weigh 20 times more than ordinary cars. Big trucks can cause disastrous injuries to other drivers on the road. Most trucking businesses care about the protection of their drivers and those who share the highway with them. However, facing a driver who is not driving their truck safely puts everyone's life in danger.

Follow these step to report an unsafe trucking company:

Gather information first

Before taking an action try to gather as much information as possible. The information that you must gather are:

• Date, time and location
• Description of the truck
• License plate number
• Description of the driver
• U.S Department of
• Transportation number
• Company name or logos that are visible on the truck

This information that you’ve collected can be very handy for authorities like police officers to take action quickly.

Incase of emergency, call 911

If you witness an emergency on the road, you should call 911 immediately. The emergency dispatcher will inform the law enforcement office to make the road safe for everyone. You should give the dispatcher as much information as possible, including all the information mentioned above and your reason for concern.

File a complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

If you witness a truck driver or trucking company engaging in negligent behavior, but the situation is not an emergency, you should file a report with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You should notify the FMCSA within 90 days of witnessing the behavior.

The FMCSA is a part of the Department of Transportation (DOT). FMCSA is responsible for enforcing federal trucking laws, including:

• Distracted driving- Drivers are obliged to text and drive or use mobile phones while driving.
  
  
• Drunk and drugged driving- The FMCSA prohibits truck drivers from operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  
  
• Hours of service- The FMCSA has put regulations on the hours that a trucker can operate continuously; it is prohibited if a trucker is found driving without rest.
  
  
• Maintenane and inspection- Trucking companies and truckers must maintain their trucks and perform inspections to ensure the safety of themselves and those driving beside them.
  
  
• Record keeping- Driver and trucking companies must maintain a logbook to track information like hours on the road and vehicle maintenance schedules.
  
  
• Speed- Drivers must obey the speed limit, and trucking companies may not schedule runs that drivers cannot make without speeding.

Report safety violation to your state department of transportation

Every state has a department of transportation that oversees and regulates various transportation-related issues, including commercial vehicles. The local transportation department in California is called the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Caltrans operates from Monday 8 am to 5 pm. You can contact them by dialing (916) 654-4245 or emailing at ctc@ca.gov.

Notify the trucking company

Trucking companies get penalties for road violations, so they might be motivated to fire truckers practising unsafe driving. The truck often has a logo on the cabin door or the trailer. Then, you can file a complaint with the company about the driver's unsafe behaviour.

Proving negligence in an accident with reckless truck drivers

Truck accidents often cause serious harm. Careless and reckless drivers mostly cause them. Contact us for assistance if you are involved in a truck accident caused by the other driver's negligence. Nordean Law has the best truck accident attorneys with experience in handling many truck accident cases.

How do I report an unsafe truck driver in California?

If you notice unsafe driving by a commercial vehicle, you can submit a complaint to the (FMCSA) Safety Violation Hotline (1-888-368-7238). The FMCSA operated from 5 am to 5 pm PST, Monday to Friday.

How much are most truck accident settlements?

The average truck accident settlement is $73,109.02.

How do I report something to the DOT?

You can report to the DOT by contacting them on phone at 202-366-2220.

How much do accident attorneys charge in California?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a continguous fee of 33.33%. If your settlement is $100,000, your lawyer’s fee will be $33,000. However, you owe the lawyer nothing if you do not receive any compensation.

What is the California vehicle code for unsafe driving?

The California vehicle code for unsafe driving is §23103(a).