The Trucking Industry Can Have a Disturbing Darkside
Trucking is a demanding job by its very nature. Companies have strict shipping deadlines, and drivers need serious focus and determination to meet their bosses' demands. However, serious road safety issues can arise when drivers stretch themselves too thin to meet these deadlines. Trucker fatigue contributes to many serious road accidents.
A recent USA Today article outlines the severe struggle that many truckers face. In Los Angeles, nine truckers were awarded $8.4 million after their employer had them falsify driving logs to comply with federal regulations after driving up to 19 hours a day. This creates safety issues for other drivers on the road, increasing the likelihood that a regular driver will be hit by a commercial truck. This is terrible, but federal regulations do exist to protect drivers from unsafe trucking practices that lead to driver fatigue.
Ways the Law Protects Drivers from Fatigued Truckers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says truckers are not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours within 14 hours, after which they must have 10 hours off. Truckers are also not allowed to work more than 60 hours in 7 days or more than 70 hours in 8 days. There are also weight limits and other regulations that exist to ensure drivers are alert and that trucks are not excessively dangerous to other drivers. Experienced truck accident attorney Mike Love used to own a trucking business. He can review your car accident case to help identify whether breaches of trucking laws may have caused the accident.
There are safety regulations for trucks, truck drivers, and trucking companies that ship goods. Trucking companies are competitive and often encourage truckers to work longer than is permissible by federal law, or offer trucks and equipment that are not up to regulatory standards to cut costs. This poses a serious risk of injury to truck drivers and other drivers on the road.
If you have been injured in a truck accident or mistreated by an employer, a Lufkin personal injury attorney can help you find out if laws were broken and gain coverage for the victims of negligence. Your insurance company or the guilty party in a truck accident will likely try to give you as little as possible for coverage. An attorney has a team of professionals that can strengthen your case using insider industry knowledge. Call today for your free consultation with an experienced attorney. We can help.