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Truck drivers work long daily and weekly hours on a continual basis, and many crashes are caused by drivers who drive carelessly because they are sleepy, less alert, and thus have slower reaction times. Because of this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration established Hours of Service (HOS) regulations to reduce driver fatigue and increase safety. These regulations are designed to prevent tired truckers from getting behind the wheel and causing serious accidents. Some of these regulations include:
No more than 11 hours driving following 10 consecutive hours off duty
No more than 14 total hours driving and working after starting a shift
No more than 60 hours in a 7-day period or 70 hours in 8 days
Truck drivers are required to keep a detailed logbook showing their compliance with the Hours of Service regulations. This includes recording their duty status every 24 hours, including total miles driven and total hours worked. “On-duty” time includes time when a driver is conducting any work for a motor carrier outside of driving. This includes things such as loading and unloading their trailers.
Fatigued, sleepy or tired drivers, who have been driving too long and too many hours without rest are listed among the most common causes of trucking accidents. HOS rules put limits on how long a driver can operate a vehicle and be on duty before they must take a break. Driver fatigue resulting from a HOS violation is considered negligent behavior.
HOS Violations and Your Claim
At Paradowski Law, we are able to identify truck drivers who drove in excess of the Hours of Services laws. We understand the regulations, how they apply in different situations, and know how to determine if these rules have been violated. Logbooks are used to keep track of when drivers are on duty, off duty, and actually driving. We will thoroughly investigate your 18-wheeler crash, which can include examining a driver’s logbook and any other relevant records such as cell phone records, intersection footage, and black box data records. We know how to handle crash claims involving trucks, and we will take the burden off your shoulders so that you can concentrate on what matters most: healing and recovering from the crash.