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Fatigued Truck Driver Accidents

Driver fatigue has been likened to drunk driving.  When you add this problem to the prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs some fatigued truck drivers use to remain awake, you have a recipe for disaster. Many studies have found that a driver who is tired poses the same accident risk as one who has consumed three or more alcoholic beverages. No matter what’s behind a driver’s fatigue, contact the seasoned truck accident team at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for help. A Virginia fatigued truck driver accident lawyer could help you prepare a claim.

Motor Carrier Pressure Resulting in Fatigued Truck Drivers

Few motor vehicle accidents are quite as dangerous as truck accidents. While there can be a number of causes of truck accidents, truck driver fatigue is one of the top 10. Federal agencies say tired truckers cause about 500 fatal crashes every year. The reason why there are so many tired truckers is simple: Transporting goods is a highly competitive industry. To meet their demands, trucking companies often impose unrealistic schedules on drivers, forcing them to make an impossible delivery window to receive a paycheck.

Even though federal trucking laws prohibit truckers from driving for more than 11 consecutive hours without a break, many drivers cut corners to save time and ensure they’re paid. Fatigue can cause many drivers to:

  • Falsify their log books
  • Fall asleep at the wheel
  • Use drugs to stay awake
  • Speed or engage in reckless driving habits

Fatigued truck drivers are a menace on the roads of Virginia and North Carolina. All of these actions can contribute to a devastating truck accident. If you were in a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver, a Virginia lawyer could determine if the cause is pressure from their employer.

Outlining the Federal Hours of Service Regulations For Truck Drivers

The Hours of Service rules are laid out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). They are meant to ensure fewer crashes are caused by the big rigs. These rules are an annoyance to many trucking companies which may seek to circumvent them and have challenged them in recent years.

Under the Hours of Service regulations truckers must:

  • Drive no more than 11 hours after taking a 10-hour break;
  • Not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty after being off duty for 10 hours.
  • Take rest breaks and drive if eight hours or less passed since the end of the driver’s last off-duty or sleeper berth period of at least half an hour. There are short-haul exceptions to the rest break rule.
  • Not drive after spending 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver can restart his or her 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off driving duty.

The Hours of Service regulations don’t go far enough for many safety groups. The Truck Safety Coalition claims powerful special interest groups in the trucking industry have restricted the scope of the rules. However, the need to keep records of driving hours to comply with these rules makes it easier to discover if a fatigued truck driver is in violation and caused an accident, although our Virginia lawyers are well aware that these records are falsified on occasions.

Liability in Truck Accidents Caused by Tired Drivers

When you are involved in an accident with a fatigued truck driver, there can be a number of liable parties:

  • The driver himself can be held liable for violating federal trucking laws.
  • The company the trucker works for can be held liable for forcing its driver to meet impossible demands.
  • A broker may be liable for the negligent hiring of a trucking company that fails to screen drivers for conditions that cause fatigue like sleep apnea or diabetes.

To determine liability in an accident involving driver fatigue in Virignia, contact an experienced truck accident attorney from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. Partners John Cooper, Jim Hurley, and Bill O’Mara have decades of experience investigating these cases, proving liability, and winning large verdicts and settlements for their clients.

Trying to pursue a truck accident case alone is not advisable because it will pit you against the powerful interests of trucking companies, their insurance providers, and their attorneys. You deserve someone on your side who can match the opposition and fight tirelessly on your behalf, protecting your rights and holding every negligent party accountable.

Speak with a Virginia Fatigued Truck Driver Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver, please contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers by calling today to schedule a free consultation. Our Virginia fatigued truck driver accident lawyers are proud to represent victims throughout the area. Please make an appointment if you want to meet us away from our main office in Norfolk. Our motto, “Your Injury, Our Fight,” holds especially true for families hurt by dangerous truckers all across Virginia.

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