From coast to coast, truck drivers in the United States transport goods ranging from vegetables to oil to automobiles. These drivers traverse thousands of miles every year. A truck driver’s job is to get as far as he or she can as quickly and efficiently as possible, which is why drivers are paid by the mile instead of the hour. Unfortunately, this system can create a tempting incentive for drivers to ignore signs of exhaustion and fatigue while on the road, thus putting themselves and other drivers in harm’s way.
Studies show that extreme sleep deprivation can have just as damaging an effect on driver coordination, judgment and reaction time as intoxication. The danger of sleep-deprived driving is compounded when the fatigued driver is operating a large truck weighing 10,000 to 80,000 pounds. It is the responsibility of large truck drivers to protect themselves and others on the road by choosing to operate while fully rested and alert. If you’ve been the victim of a truck accident in which the truck driver was sleep deprived, you may be entitled to significant compensation for damages incurred because of the incident, as well as restitution for lost wages and/or pain and suffering.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulation §395.3 requires truck drivers to operate their vehicles for no more than 14 hours before taking a mandatory rest period lasting a minimum of 10 hours. In addition, they may drive for only 11 of those 14 hours. There are other rules governing when and for how long a driver may operate. None of these laws are optional — however, not all truck drivers observe them. A skilled New York City personal injury attorney may be able to help you establish a case if the driver of the truck involved in the accident was fatigued by using methods to obtain evidence for this claim. For example, some trucks use electronic recorders to log how many hours a driver was operating the vehicle and how many hours he or she was resting.
Choose Jaroslawicz & Jaros For Compassionate And Effective Representation
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a New York City motor vehicle accident lawyer if you or someone in your family has been involved in a truck accident. There are many cases of driver negligence or misconduct that can cause truck accidents and lead to serious injury or even death for occupants of passenger vehicles. Our team at Jaroslawicz & Jaros wants to work with you to ensure that you get the compensatory damages you are entitled to in the event of a truck collision. We offer a free, no-risk, no-hassle case evaluation, so there’s no reason not to call today.
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