If you have sustained injuries as the result of an accident with a semi truck, it is important to understand the laws that govern drivers of big trucks. Semi trucker drivers have a greater duty of care owed to the other drivers on the road since accidents with a semi truck can cause much more damage than a passenger vehicle. One of the laws that truck drivers must abide by regarding this duty of care concerns how much rest they are getting during their trips.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers have strict guidelines regarding their hours of service. Statistically, longer daily and weekly driving hours for truck drivers can lead to an increase in accidents. This is due to driver fatigue as well as other chronic health problems that arise from a lack of sleep.
To help decrease the risk of accidents as a result of long working hours, the FMCSA has limited the number of hours a truck driver can work consecutively without resting. Additionally, truck drivers must keep sleep and rest logs in their vehicles to prove that they are resting for the required amount of time.
The Hours of Service Regulation affects most drivers that operate commercial motor vehicles. This includes trucks that:
- Weigh over 10,000 pounds
- Transport certain quantities of hazardous materials
- Transport more than 8 people for compensation
- Transport more than 15 people not for compensation
If your injury occurs as a result of a driver not following the federal HOS guidelines, they may hold liability for your injuries. More information about this topic is available on our webpage.