Freight Accident Law Glossary

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the U.S. Department of Transportation age...

Hours of service regulations under FMCSA 49 CFR Part 395 limit the number of hours a commercial truc...

An electronic logging device (ELD) is a tamper-resistant device mandated by FMCSA for most commercia...

An event data recorder (EDR), also called a 'black box,' is an electronic device installed in commer...

A motor carrier is a for-hire or private entity that operates commercial motor vehicles in interstat...

Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine holding an employer vicariously liable for the negligent act...

Negligence per se is a doctrine under which a defendant's violation of a statute or regulation satis...

Under FMCSA regulations, a statutory employee is an owner-operator who is deemed an employee of the ...

California's pure comparative fault system, established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804...

A Driver Qualification file is the required documentation package that motor carriers must maintain ...

FMCSA cargo securement regulations under 49 CFR Part 393 Subpart I set minimum standards for how loa...

The statute of limitations is the legally mandated filing deadline for a civil lawsuit; missing the ...

Punitive damages under California Civil Code Section 3294 are an award beyond compensatory damages w...

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the ...

A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is a state-issued license required to operate commercial motor v...

Loss of consortium is a damages claim by the spouse or domestic partner of a seriously injured perso...

Wrongful death is a civil cause of action under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60 br...

A life care plan is a comprehensive expert document projecting the lifetime medical costs of a catas...

Spoliation is the destruction, concealment, alteration, or failure to preserve evidence that is know...

An expert witness is a person with specialized knowledge, skill, experience, or training who is qual...

Discovery is the pre-trial phase of civil litigation during which parties exchange evidence through ...