Statistics from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show sleep deprivation as one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Their statistics reveal that of the approximately 100,000 accidents studied sleep deprivation has been a significant causation factor. As many as 40,000 truck accident-related injuries and upwards of 1,500 deaths occur annually because trucking companies and drivers violate the hours-of-service requirements.
Professional drivers are required to log in their driving times and miles using an electronic logging device (ELD). ELDs electronically track data and separate out the time the engine is running, the truck is moving, and the actual number of miles driven. Truck drivers time behind the wheel is limited to 11 hours a day.
Despite the 11-hour limitation, the chances of accidents increase and this increase is magnified with night operation. Frequently truckers are inclined to drive longer than 11 hours to either make more money or due to pressure from the company they drive for. Statistics suggest that drivers and trucking companies, may misrepresent their schedules to increase the amount of time behind the wheel.
Extended driving periods can cause fatigue and slow reaction times. Night driving can increase the risk of accidents because it interrupts the natural sleep cycle. In September 2020 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated its Summary of Hours of Service for truckers in response to the growing concern about drowsy semi-truck drivers and their accidents. The FMCSA Interstate Truck Driver’s Guide to Hours of Service says the following are the limitations: a 14-hour driving window, an 11-hour driving limit, a 30-minute rest break, a 60/70-hour duty limit, and a 34-hour restart.
Truck accidents can more easily be avoided when companies put safety ahead of profits. Trucking company and driver negligence injures or kills drivers and change lives forever. We have extensive experience and knowledge of the FMCSA regulations and work to prove hours-of-service violations that cause accidents involving injuries and tragic deaths. We review trucker logbooks, electronic records, cell phone data, inspection reports, and receipts to establish violations.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. A Sacramento truck accident attorney can help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or contact Guenard & Bozarth online. We would be honored to represent you!
