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Tired Drivers Were you involved in a truck accident that was caused by a fatigued driver? If so, you might be eligible to receive compensation. Contact Webb, Stokes & Sparks to discuss the details of your case.

Hold Fatigued Drivers Responsible

Our San Angelo Personal Injury Lawyers are Ready to Help You

Driving an 18-wheeler truck is a major responsibility that requires proper education, years of experience, and acute awareness to do correctly. If this delicate balance is not maintained, truck accidents can result.

Driver fatigue can easily lead to loss of control of a vehicle. When a driver is tired, they may fail to notice and respond to hazards promptly. This can cause collisions and devastating injuries.

To schedule a free consultation with our legal team, complete our contact form or call (325) 221-0822.

The Dangers of Fatigued Driving

Truck drivers are often embarking on long drives, travelling from state to state, or even across the country. This means that they are driving for extended periods of time, and throughout all hours of the night. Such long and late-night travels can make truck drivers more susceptible to exhaustion and fatigue. Driver fatigue and sleep deprivation is one of the most common causes of truck accidents.

Driving while fatigued can cause truck drivers to:

  • Fall asleep
  • Be careless
  • Ignore signs forewarning them to take precaution
  • Panic or freeze up

About Hours of Service Regulations

Due to the set of federal regulations known as the "hours of service” laws, truck drivers must abide by a set of rules in order to avoid accidents caused by driver fatigue and sleep deprivation. These laws limit the amount of time that a driver can legally spend on the road and require drivers to periodically take breaks.

Hours of service regulations are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The regulations state that “property carrying drivers,” such as 18-wheeler drivers, may only drive for 11 total hours after being off duty for 10 consecutive hours. After 14 consecutive hours on duty, truckers must stop driving for the day. Truck drivers are required to take time to rest throughout their shift. The regulations also state that truckers “may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7 or 8 consecutive days.”

If you suspect that your accident was caused by a driver who was fatigued or fell asleep, it may benefit you and your case to determine if they were in violation of the hours of service rules. Truckers are supposed to keep logs of their trips and time spent driving, which could potentially serve as evidence in a truck accident case. Hours of service regulations can exhibit driver negligence as well as trucking company negligence. If a trucking company requires their drivers to drive beyond the hours established in the regulations, they could be liable for damages.

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