Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Driver fatigue is a huge problem, which has reared its ugly head in tractor trailer accident cases for many years. The fact is, thousands of truck drivers just don't get enough sleep. This puts all of us on the roadways at risk. Truck drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel, and even so-called "drowsy driving" can really impact the truck driver's ability to drive safely. Many observers point to the pressure from trucking companies that drivers are sometimes subjected to, which may lead drivers to be on the roads and interstates for so many hours that there is not sufficient time for sleep.

This problem has been addressed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which govern how drivers and trucking companies do business - to help ensure the safety of the public and the drivers themselves. For example, under the rules, a truck driver may not drive more than 10 hours, after having 8 straight hours off-duty, OR for any period of time at all, after the driver has been on duty for 15 straight hours, after having 8 straight hours off-duty. Also, a motor carrier (trucking company) may not require (or even allow) a truck driver to drive at all after 60 hours in any single week. In a similar vein, a truck driver also may not drive a truck, if he has been driving 70 hours in any 8-day period. You can find these regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 395.3.

Truck accident lawyers have discovered numerous violations of these kinds of safety rules over the years after major tractor trailer crashes. It is critically important that when these safety rules are broken, that those responsible are held accountable, so that future wrongful death fatalities and life-shattering injuries don't occur.