Driver Fatigue and California Truck Accidents
Many truck companies push their drivers to meet unrealistic schedules. Often, drivers think they will be rewarded if they get to a truck delivery site ahead of time. Unfortunately, to achieve these hurried timeframes, many drivers fail to get the necessary sleep they need. Tired drivers are dangerous drivers. Drivers who are fatigued don’t have control of their trucks. They often take their eyes off the highways and can’t react in time to the stresses of heavy traffic, bad weather, and other vehicles. Driver fatigue can cause wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, broken bones, and life-changing injuries.
Federal driving fatigue laws
To address the hazard of tired drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created regulations to ensure that drivers get their proper rest. While the regulations apply to drivers of commercial vehicles only, they are sound advice for all drivers driving long distances. The regulations were enacted because drivers often make long journeys including cross-country trips. Driving a truck can be monotonous and lonesome. In addition to following the FMSCA regulations, our Los Angeles truck crash lawyers understand that truck drivers must keep records (logs) of their driving hours. The FMSCA rules provide that commercial truck drivers:
- Can’t work more than 14 hours in any given day
- Can only drive up to 11 hours in any work day
- Must take a 30-minute break after the first seven hours
- Can’t drive more than 70 hours in a week unless they take a 24-hour rest
Drivers are often pushed to exceed these regulations because the trucking company puts profits before safety. Slow traffic or unreasonable logistics can put the driver under pressure to meet deadlines. Some drivers think they don’t have to abide by the rules. Drivers who drink or who fail to eat regularly are more likely to get fatigued than those with healthy habits. Many drivers should get off the road earlier than the FMSCA limits.
Get help when a tired truck driver causes injury or takes the life of a loved one
There’s no excuse for driving while fatigued. The trucking company that hires the driver must make sure the driver understands the federal laws and any California laws that regulate safety including fatigue laws. The company should educate the driver about the dangers of driving while tired and provide remedies such as permission to stay in hotels along the way. Drivers are also responsible for their own safety and the safety of everyone on the road.
At Taylor & Ring, our Los Angeles truck crash attorneys have a strong reputation for getting strong and just recoveries for truck accident victims and the families of wrongful death victims throughout Southern California. For help now, please call us at 310-776-6390 or use our contact form to make an appointment.
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David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.