Thousands of trucks share the roads with other drivers throughout the United States, transporting cargo across the country. These trucks are vital to a productive and successful society. Although a vast majority of these journeys are completed without incident, there are times when trucks are involved in accidents, oftentimes with serious, catastrophic or even deadly results.
The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has several rules in place to try to limit trucking accidents by requiring that drivers log their hours on the road. The administration also requires that truckers take time off the roads to rest. This is important to help prevent drowsy driving, a common cause of truck accidents.
For example, drivers are required to maintain trucking logs detailing the amount of time they are on the roads, as well as the time they take for breaks. These regulations are specifically designed to make certain that truck drivers do not drive excessive shifts without taking appropriate breaks. There are also rules regarding the maximum number of hours each week a driver can spend on the roads. Too many hours or long shifts greatly increases the chance of drowsy driving, which could lead to a serious truck accident.
If you have been involved in trucking accident, it may be due to the negligence of the truck driver. If the driver has not properly maintained a log of the hours on the road, the driver, as well as the trucking company, may be liable for the accident. Compensation could include funds for pain and suffering, medical costs as well as lost wages due to your injuries.
Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Summary of Hours of Service Regulations,” Accessed Sept. 4, 2017
