How to report an erratic driver

These are merely suggestions, however. Do your best to report what you see, while keeping yourself safe from the unsafe driver and any other hazards on the road. If you have sustained injuries in an accident with a semi-truck as a result of an unsafe commercial driver or negligent trucking company, you should not have to shoulder the physical, emotional, and economic harm without financial support.

Truck wrecks, however, frequently involve complicated factual and legal issues. To protect your rights and give yourself the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve, trust only an experienced truck accident lawyer to represent you in all aspects of investigating, negotiating, and litigating your claim. Louisville-based attorney, David Bryant, has been advocating for injured accident victims for more than a decade, including in cases involving unsafe semi-truck drivers and devastating accidents.

His experience in the negotiation, settlement, and litigation of personal injury claims has led to tens of millions of dollars in settlement money and jury awards for his clients. Contact David Bryant Law today online or at for a free consultation and case evaluation to discuss your truck accident, your injuries, and the best course of action going forward.

Get Free Case Evaluation. Table of Contents. How to Report an Unsafe Truck Driver. August 31, David Bryant. Unsafe Truck Driving Practices Some driving behaviors can lead to catastrophic accidents. Report any of the following: Illegal Passing Traffic laws in most states forbid professional drivers from passing on a hill, on a curve, and on the right.

Speeding Commercial drivers have demanding schedules and many feel extreme pressure to meet pick-up and drop-off deadlines. Swerving If you see a truck swerving, it might signal a potentially dangerous situation.

Failing to Yield Some truck drivers act as if they own the road and have little regard for other vehicles around them. Following Too Closely The FMCSA estimates a loaded semi-truck takes the distance of up to two football fields to stop if traveling at 65 miles per hour. The risk of a deadly accident runs especially high in heavy traffic and inclement weather.

Camping in the Left Lane Many states have rules that prohibit slow vehicles from camping in the left lane on an interstate or other multi-lane highway.

Reckless Driving Many of the driving behaviors above fall under the category of reckless driving. Injured in a Trucking Accident? You have legal rights to compensation for your injuries and losses. If you found this helpful, please share it:. Share on facebook.

Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. By some definitions, driving that is reckless is always dangerous and always presents a potential danger to human life. Cornell Law School defines the term "reckless" as meaning "behavior that is so careless that it is considered an extreme departure from the care a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances.

When you act with reckless disregard, according to Webster's New World Law Dictionary, you proceed to do something with a conscious awareness of danger while ignoring any potential consequences. But obviously you can't call every time the driver next to you at a red light starts texting. Where to draw the line?

Various websites offer examples of when to call and when not to. The Alaska Highway Patrol, for example, says you should call if you see signs of dangerous driving like:. In short, you'll have to use your own discretion. Report reckless driving to if you feel that it puts other drivers and pedestrians in danger. Some apps, like Nexar, turn your phone into a dashboard camera.

You will need a dashboard mount for the phone, however. These can be bought at electronic stores, phone stores, or online. Avoid following the car. Following the car can put you in danger. It is best to get as much information as you can from a casual glance and report it to the police.

The police will handle the situation from there. Method 2. Ask your passenger to report the driver. Have them make the call and report the driver. Do not try to talk on the phone while you drive, or you could put your life in danger.

Pull your car over if you do not have a passenger. Move to a safe shoulder off of the road or into a parking lot. Make sure this is a safe place to stop your car for a few minutes. Only call the police once the car is stopped and parked. In the US, this number is Describe the car to the police and tell them where it is headed.

Give them as much information as possible about the car. I'm near mile marker They are swerving between lanes, and I think they may be dangerous. Tell them the color and make of the car as well as what road you were driving on. This will help the police be on the lookout for this driver. Look up to see if your state has a similar service.

They were tailgating my car and then they made a rude gesture to me as they passed my car. You should only do this if the driver was in a clearly marked company vehicle. Method 3. File a report to a national database. You can also use an app like Bad Driver. Check the website of your city or police. Many local police departments and city transportation departments have online forms where you can report reckless drivers.

If they do, fill out their online form. To find out if this is available in your area, you can search online for the name of your city or county with the words "report reckless driver. In this email, you might write, "I noticed a red Mustang speeding down I this morning around AM.

They were weaving in and out of traffic and nearly collided with a truck. I have attached a photo of their license plate. Inform a local DMV if someone you know is a reckless driver. If you know the identity of an unsafe driver, you can request for your local department of motor vehicles to give them a new driving exam. Some departments have online forms for this. You may need to email others. In most cases, this information can be given anonymously. On this form, you should: [12] X Research source Identify who needs to be reexamined.

Provide a reason why they should be reexamined medical issue, alcohol problem, declining eyesight, etc. State your relationship to the driver family member, friend, court appointed sponsor, etc.

Email the government to report a government vehicle.