Philadelphia Truck Driver Fatigue Attorneys

Trucking Distracted Driving

Interstate or long-haul truck drivers are expected to transport cargo, be it livestock, bananas or boxes of facial tissue, from point A to point B in a timely manner. Unfortunately, "a timely manner" often involves unrealistic delivery times. In order for a truck driver to deliver their cargo on schedule, he or she may drive above the speed limit, may make unsafe lane changes and turns, and/or may continue driving, without sleep or rest, for extended periods of time. Truck drivers may operate this way in order to make their destination on time, but, realistically, operating this way will increase the possibility that neither the driver nor the cargo make it to their destination at all, as well as endanger the lives of other motorists on the road.

The Risks of Driver Fatigue and Sleepiness

A truck driver who is sleep and/or rest deprived, whether because they are not getting enough sleep, not getting quality sleep, or not taking rest breaks, becomes fatigued during the hours that they are awake and driving. This results in decreased alertness as well as decreased mental and physical performance. These consequences are very dangerous for the driver of an 80,000 pound tractor trailer. Reaction times are slower, navigating turns are more difficult, staying in the lane requires more effort, and over-and under-steering become issues. Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving while impaired and can result in a fatal Philadelphia truck accident.

FMCSA Hours-of-Service Regulations

In order to decrease the number of large truck accidents caused by fatigued driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The current set of regulations, for property-carrying CMV drivers, is as follows:

• 14-Hour On Duty Limit - Prohibits driving after 14 consecutive hours of duty until after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Driving is limited to the 14-hour duty period even if off-duty time is taken during the 14-hour period.
• 11-Hour Driving Limit - May drive a maximum of 11 total hours during the 14-hour duty period; may not drive again until after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 60/70-Hour Duty Limit - Prohibits driving after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may drive again once the on-duty hours are below the 60/70-hour limit for 7/8 consecutive days, but can also start a new 7/8 consecutive day cycle by taking 34 or more consecutive off-duty hours.

These are only a general representation of the HOS regulations, but provide the basic information needed to understand the rules. If a truck driver does not obey these regulations, and they cause a fatigued truck driving accident, then they may be held liable for the injuries and/or wrongful deaths they caused.

Holding Fatigued Big Rig Drivers Responsible

Meeting a deadline is not worth placing other motorists on the road at risk. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Pennsylvania semi truck crash caused by a fatigued truck driver, you may be entitled to seek compensation by way of a personal injury claim. At Anapol Schwartz, our Philadelphia fatigued driver trucking accident lawyers have years of experience helping truck crash victims and their families hold at-fault parties accountable for the pain and suffering they have caused and are committed to providing our clients with the resources they need to recover. To tell us about your accident and learn more about your legal rights, please call our law office today at (866) 735-2792.

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