Generally speaking, the purpose of new laws affecting the trucking industry is to reduce the likelihood of accidents. While this is not true of every single law, the most common reason for a new law is to protect truck drivers and any potential victims of truck-involved accidents. New laws that could come into effect in 2025 (or beyond) could have the same goal of increased safety and may lead to a reduction in truck accident rates.
However, we know that trucking accidents will continue to happen, even if well-intended laws come into effect. If you or a loved one are in such an accident, a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer from our team can explain the impact of truck laws in Florida on your case and help you pursue all compensation you are eligible to receive.
New Laws Can Reduce Truck Accident Rates but Not Eliminate Them
There is reason for optimism for anyone who wants to see fewer truck accidents in Florida—which should be everyone. The potential arrival of new laws in the coming year(s) is one glaring reason for such optimism about reduced truck accident rates.
Some of the updated regulations and Florida trucking law changes that may occur in the next calendar year, or perhaps soon after, include:
Standardizing Testing and Performance of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Systems
Of all the modern technology commercial trucks contain, AEB systems may have the greatest capacity to prevent truck crashes. Potentially, these systems can:
- Constantly scan the surroundings around the truck with the primary purpose of detecting a potential crash
- Automatically apply the truck’s brakes if its sensors, cameras, radar, or other monitoring tech senses an imminent collision
- Be critical safeguards when truck drivers are distracted, tired, slow to respond to changing road conditions, or otherwise failing to be an alert, responsive motorist
Regulators that oversee the trucking industry, including the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), have voiced their intent to make these critical AEB systems standard industry-wide.
A Crackdown on Drugged and Alcohol-Impaired Driving
The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is “an online database that gives employers and government agencies real-time access to information about CDL driver drug and alcohol program violations.”
This database may:
- Alert trucking companies to drivers whose history of drug or alcohol-related violations should bar them from driving a commercial vehicle
- Help trucking companies and other authorities classify drivers as prohibited and not prohibited based on their history
- Help victims of truck accidents discover when a trucking company allowed a dangerous driver to operate an 18-wheeler
Various changes in the management of this database could make it a more effective, uniformly used resource.
Stricter Mandates Requiring Speed Limiter Devices
Limiter devices prevent a truck from traveling over a certain speed threshold. These devices can help prevent reckless driving, but they are not universally used among trucking companies and trucks in the United States.
New laws related to speed limiters may expand the use of these devices in Florida and may reduce accident rates as a positive consequence.
Broader Adoption of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Electronic logging devices communicate information about a truck driver’s status and operations to a third party, such as a fleet manager and accident investigator. These devices may also maintain critical information following an accident for a personal injury attorney who is representing a truck accident victim.
Truck accident legislation in Florida may require more truck owners and operators to install cutting-edge ELD devices in vehicles, even in older trucks that were previously exempt.
Changes in How Regulators Evaluate Driver Safety
As Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyers know, there can be significant variance in what trucking companies consider “a safe driver.” As laws evolve to make the industry safer, there may be more universal standards for how truck drivers are evaluated, sanctioned, and disqualified based on their performance and safety protocols.
New Laws Can Never Prevent All Truck Accidents, but Hiring a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer May Be a Wise Decision
While any new laws implemented in the trucking industry in 2025 or beyond will likely have good intentions, no single law can prevent all truck accidents. If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in a truck wreck in Florida, allow a truck collision attorney from our team to:
- Secure all evidence proving why the accident happened (and who is the responsible party)
- Document your medical care, pain and suffering, and other accident-related damages
- Manage your truck accident claim while you recover from your injuries
- Deal with the insurance companies, insurance adjusters, and defense lawyers for you
- Fight for fair compensation for your losses
Having a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale on your side should enable you to protect your legal rights and prioritize recovery. Truck accident lawsuits like yours can be immensely time-consuming and complex, and there are many reasons to let an attorney handle your case, including your health and well-being.
Truck accidents don’t just take a financial toll on victims. Pain, disfiguring injuries, distress, and other non-economic harm can be every bit as harmful as medical bills or the cost of repairing a vehicle. As you consider hiring a truck accident lawyer, know that your lawyer will measure the full cost of your damages.
Call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato Today for Your Free Consultation About a Truck Accident Lawyer
If you need a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney, our firm is here 24/7 to answer your call. We can also assist families who need a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyer after a fatal 18-wheeler accident.
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato have obtained more than $200 million in financial compensation for our clients, so call us today for your free, no-obligation consultation. You can read testimonials from our clients to see why our firm is worthy of your trust. Call (954) 633-8270 today.
