Truck Driver Fatigue Accidents
According to statistics gathered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of trucking accidents in Ohio and the rest of the country. Despite the FMCSA establishing strict guidelines to prevent truckers from getting behind the wheel while too tired, this dangerous behavior happens all the time. Sometimes it is directly due to the actions of the driver and in other situations, the parent trucking company creates unreasonable schedules and delivery routes. No matter who has caused or encouraged truck driver fatigue, the result is usually the same: a catastrophic accident.
Consequences often attributed to truck accidents include:
If you have been hit by a truck driver who was tired behind the wheel, you should contact our Toledo truck accident attorneys at Williams DeClark Tuschman Co. L.P.A. We have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and have collected more than half a billion dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Dial 419-719-5195 today to learn about our services.
Trucking Regulations And Black Box Recorders
Federal regulations put forth by the FMCSA are meant to restrict a trucker’s schedule to something that limits or prevents exhaustion while on the road.
FMCSA hours of service regulations for most truckers include:
- Shifts may not exceed 14 hours.
- Shifts cannot have more than 11 hours behind the wheel.
- 30-minute rests are required every eight hours.
- 10 hours must exist between shifts.
Compared to most other occupations, a 14-hour shift already sounds exhausting, even with mandatory rest periods. On top of this arguably unreasonable schedule, companies can try to use loopholes to keep their truck drivers on the roads for even longer. For example, if the truck never leaves a 100-air mile radius, the 14-hour limitation is not enforced. In response to business practices that extend driver hours of service beyond regular amounts, most commercial trucks have been equipped with electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs). These small devices act like a black box recorder installed in airplanes, with some models keeping track of where a truck was at the time of an accident and how fast it was going. In terms of hours of service, even the most basic EOBR model keeps a data set that shows how long a truck has been in operation since its last break. Getting a copy of EOBR data can be invaluable to your truck accident claim.
Legal Strength For Today And Tomorrow
Our Toledo driver fatigue attorneys never tire when it comes to pursuing justice and maximized compensation on behalf of our clients. The commitment and effort you will see on the first day you retain our services will be present until the last day of your case. This is the representation you deserve and the level of professionalism you should expect.
If you have more questions about what to do for your truck accident case, schedule a free evaluation and we would be happy to address them.