The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines a commercial vehicle as a vehicle that is used in business or trade to transport people or goods and meets one of the following three classifications:
- Combination vehicle. Combination vehicles consist of a cab and a trailer and have a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms/26,001 pounds or more. The weight includes towed units with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms or 10,000 pounds.
- Heavy straight vehicle. Heavy straight vehicles are single-unit trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms, or at least 26,001 pounds.
- Small vehicle. Small vehicles are considered commercial if they do not meet the weight requirements above but are designed to carry 16 or more passengers or are used to transport hazardous materials.
This Definition Matters If You Are Hurt in a Truck Crash
Commercial trucks, their owners, and their operators are subject to certain regulations that do not apply to other trucks. Therefore, when you are in a crash with a commercial truck, your legal case may be more complicated. You need a truck accident lawyer who knows what regulations apply, will find out what happened in your crash, and who isn’t afraid to hold all of the responsible parties accountable for their part in the accident.
Call an Experienced Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer to Learn More
Our truck accident legal team knows how to investigate crashes and get fair recoveries from the right defendants. If you have been hurt in a Kentucky truck wreck, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible for a free and confidential consultation. We will review what happened to you and take all of the necessary steps to protect your rights before the statute of limitations expires. Call us or start a live chat with us now to learn more.
Related Links: