Truck Accidents and Hours of Service Regulations
The severe impact of a truck accident may cause death, catastrophic injuries, and steep financial losses for victims and their families. If a truck driver or trucking company is responsible for an accident, that person or party should be held liable for resulting damages.
Many truck accidents are related to hours of service regulations, and the failure of trucking companies to enforce these guidelines. The truck accident attorneys at Moody Law are prepared to gather the evidence necessary to hold liable parties accountable for the damages they cause. Our attorneys can help victims in Lakeland, FL, Winter Haven, FL, and surrounding areas seek compensation for losses stemming from a truck accident caused by hours of service violations.
What Are Hours of Service Regulations?
Hours of service regulations are rules that have been set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA. These regulations are in place to prevent truck drivers from operating commercial trucks while they are overworked or overly tired, in an attempt to minimize the likelihood of truck accidents.
Hours of service regulations outline how long a driver can operate a commercial truck without taking a break, as well as how many hours a truck driver must have off after completing a shift and before starting another. The current hours of service regulations dictate that:
- Drivers of property-carrying trucks may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty
- Drivers may only operate a property-carrying truck if less than eight hours has passed since the last off-duty break or sleeper berth period of at least 30 minutes
- A driver may not drive beyond 60 hours on duty in seven consecutive days, or 70 hours on duty in eight consecutive days
How Do I Know If Regulations Were Violated?
Truck drivers are required to track their hours of service so that any violations can be identified. Unfortunately, hours of service records can be falsified. Even if we are given access to those records, they may not be accurate.
If we suspect that hours of service regulations were violated, we can review other types of evidence.
Evidence to Prove Hours of Service Violations
Our truck accident attorneys will gather evidence to prove liability following an accident. We will look into other types of evidence that can prove regulations were violated, such as:
- Blackbox data
- GPS data
- Cellular records
- Weigh station receipts
- Tollbooth tickets
- Store, restaurant, and gas receipts
With necessary evidence, our attorneys can demonstrate liability and get our clients the compensation they deserve for losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Us
If you have been involved in a truck accident, it is important that you have a knowledgeable attorney on your side as you fight for compensation for damages. To find out how the legal team at Moody Law can be of assistance, send us a message at your earliest convenience or call (863) 284-9090 to schedule a consultation.