Fatigued Drivers, Hours of Service Rules and Truck Accidents

Our Alabama Truck Accident Lawyers Explain Hours of Service Rules

Truck accidents are much more likely to result in catastrophic injuries or deaths. For this reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, also called the FMCSA, has “hours of service” rules. These federal rules are in place to ensure commercial truck drivers have mandatory rest periods after driving for 11 hours following 10 hours off duty. There are also daily and weekly limits on how many hours commercial truckers can drive and operate. Mandatory rest breaks are also a requirement.

When truck drivers ignore these rules, other motorists pay the ultimate price. Not everyone dies in a truck accident. Traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, spinal cord injuries and amputations can all result from a collision with an 18-wheeler.

How Do Hours of Service Rules Work?

Hours of service rules require mandatory rest periods and caps on operating times, and with few exceptions. FMCSA hours of service rules are federal, meaning interstate truckers must abide by these rules. Alabama intrastate truck drivers, meaning they do not leave the state and meet other requirements, follow guidelines set by the state.

What does this mean? Truck accidents involving fatigued driving should be looked at by an attorney who can determine whether negligence occurred. An experienced attorney can review the specifics of a case to determine whether federal or state hours of service laws caused a wreck. In fact, it does not cost money to have an attorney look at the details of an accident.

How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help?

The experienced truck accident attorneys at Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law can review the details of an accident and help determine whether negligence or reckless behavior occurred.

Certain types of injuries can cause significant life disruptions. If an attorney suffered a severe brain injury during a truck accident, depending on the severity of the injury, chances are they will not be practicing law going forward.

For accident survivors with catastrophic injuries, the same is true for most professions. In addition, catastrophic injuries may also require vehicle and home modifications, in-home medical care, physical rehabilitation, and other economic damages. Catastrophic injuries also cause pain and suffering, meaning a significant reduction in life quality.

An attorney can help recover financial compensation for the damages mentioned above. Without compensation for a severe truck accident injury, it will be more difficult to move forward in life.

Experienced truck accident attorneys like us have resources to help determine fault for a crash. For example, truck accident cases may include:

• Working with accident reconstruction specialists. These are technical experts who can determine whether the truck driver or its carrier’s negligent actions led to a crash.
• Working with medical experts to help determine economic and noneconomic damages.
• Aiding in the discovery process, such as witness testimony or obtaining video footage from a traffic camera.

It is important to remember that the examples above are some of the more basic ways a personal injury lawyer can help with a truck accident case. Attorneys can also help with the settlement negotiation process, or if necessary, take the case to trial.

Get a Free Consultation With Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law

Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law can review the circumstances of your accident at no cost, and help you determine whether you have a strong case. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience.

You can reach us at our Birmingham or Alexander offices by telephone or by using the contact form on our website.

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