Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. blog

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Tired Truckers Cause Accidents

It is estimated that up to 40% of all commercial trucking accidents are in part due to driver fatigue. Federal regulations issued by the Department of Transportation permit commercial truck drivers to drive a maximum of 11 hours at a time before completing 10 hours off duty. The per week (7 consecutive days) maximum is 60 hours or 70 hours in an eight day period. Violation of these very important safety rules puts every motorist at risk as well as the truck drivers themselves. Unfortunately most drivers are paid by the load or the mile so the more loads carried or more miles driven give some drivers incentive to disregard the safety of themselves and all of us that travel our roads and highways. If you are injured in a truck accident it is extremely important to get advice and assistance from a law firm that knows these regulations and can respond quickly and appropriately. Trucking companies usually employ company representatives that attempt to lessen the liability of the company and reguarly show up at the accident scene within minutes of the crash to take pictures, measurements and obtain statements from anyone that will talk. It is important not to talk with them.

posted by Attorney W. Marc Hardesty at 5:33 AM