Helping Clients Injured by Semi-Truck Drivers
Everywhere you look on the highways, there seem to be large semi-trucks. These truck drivers work long hours to deliver goods to stores, warehouses, and even directly to our homes. While drivers might be dedicated to making as many shipments as possible on time, they also must prevent driving for excessive hours without proper rest. If you believe a fatigued truck driver hit you, contact a Los Lunas truck accident attorney right away.
Hours of Services Regulations
Fatigued driving can lead to serious truck crashes, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has taken steps to prevent excess driving in semi-trucks. The agency enacted and enforces hours of service restrictions, which limit how long a truck driver can be on the road and require certain rest breaks.
Even though these restrictions exist to curb fatigued driving crashes, these accidents still happen for the following reasons and more:
- A trucking company encourages or allows drivers to violate hours of service restrictions to complete more deliveries, which can increase profits
- Drivers might exceed allowed hours on the road to get home faster to loved ones or finish a shift without having to stop and rest first
- Drivers might become drowsy when they are within hours of service limits, and they might decide not to pull over and rest because they are not in violation of the law
Despite safety laws being in place with penalties for violations, truck drivers continue to operate semi-trucks for too long at once, which can cause serious crashes and injuries to others.
The Effects of Excess Driving
Driving too long on monotonous highways can easily result in drowsy driving. Even if a truck driver might not realize they are tired, fatigue can still have many effects on their driving abilities. These include:
- Lack of focus
- Confusion
- Delayed reaction times
- Nodding off or falling asleep
Drowsy driving is often likened to drunk driving since the impairments can be similar. Many truck drivers overestimate their abilities to push through and continue driving well beyond when they should rest.
Holding Drivers and Companies Liable
When a truck driver violates hours of service regulations and causes your injuries, your attorney can examine records to prove excess driving, which can lead to liability. Even if there was no record of a violation, we can use other evidence to show that drowsy driving led to the crash. If a truck driver caused your accident, the trucking company that employs the driver can generally also be liable for your losses. We can file the appropriate insurance claims to seek recovery for your:
- Medical bills
- Lost income and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Los Lunas Today
The David C. Chavez Law Firm, handles complex truck accident claims, including those stemming from excess driving of semi-trucks. If you believe you might have a case, please contact us online or call 505-865-9696 for a free case evaluation.
