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Lake City Truck Driver Hours of Service Regulations/Fatigue Attorneys

Commercial trucks pose many hazards to other drivers on the road, but one of the biggest is fatigued drivers. Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, and they are under an incredible amount of pressure to deliver their cargo in short periods of time. To do this, they often stay on the roads for long hours at a time and just like any other driver, they may become tired.

The combination of fatigue and operating a huge commercial truck is a very dangerous one. Drowsy truck drivers are much more likely to cause an accident and when they do, victims become severely injured. If you have been hurt, a Lake City truck driver hours of service regulations/fatigue attorney can explain the legal options available to you for claiming compensation for your injuries.

The Law On Truck Driver Hours of Service Regulations/Fatigue

Federal and state governments recognize the dangers trucks pose to other motorists on the roadways and highways. As such, they have enacted many laws to try and prevent these serious accidents. One of the most important laws pertains to the number of hours truck drivers can remain on the road before they have to take a break.

It is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that outlines the law for truck drivers and trucking companies, including the hours of service rule. This law stipulates that truck drivers are only allowed behind the wheel for a maximum of 11 hours in one 24-hour period. In total, truckers are not allowed to work for more than 14 hours in any one 24-hour period, regardless of whether they are behind the wheel or not. Additionally, any time a truck driver works for eight hours, they must take a 30-minute break.

Under the FMCSA rules, truck drivers are also not allowed to work more than seven or eight days, and they can only work a total of 60 to 70 hours during that time. Any time a trucker works over 70 hours in one week, or they work more than eight days in a week, they are required to enter a restart period. During the restart period, the truck driver must rest for 34 consecutive hours before starting a new workweek.

Determining Liability for Truck Driver Hours of Service Regulations/Fatigue

Just as with many other types of truck accidents, it is sometimes difficult to determine who is liable for an accident caused by truck driver fatigue. Also just like with other trucking crashes, it is easy to assume the truck driver is at fault. Sometimes, this is true and truckers do willingly stay on the road for long periods of time in order to deliver their cargo and meet their deadlines.

Other times though, it is the trucking company that is at fault for hours of service violations. Trucking companies make more profit the more goods they are able to deliver and it is not uncommon for them to offer incentives to drivers to violate the law. When this is the case, trucking companies could be held at least partly liable if a fatigued truck driver causes a crash.

Our Lake City Truck Driver Hours of Service Regulations/Fatigue Attorney Can Help with Your Case

Truckers and trucking companies put everyone on the road at risk when they violate the law. If you have been injured or have lost someone due to a fatigued truck driver, our Lake City truck driver hours of service regulations/fatigue lawyer can handle your case. At Meldon Law, our skilled attorney can determine the cause of your crash, and identify the liable party so you claim the full damages you deserve. Call us today at 800-373-8000 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case review.

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