New Hampshire Tired Truck Driver Accident Attorney
Claims for Truck Accidents Caused by Tired Drivers in NH
Numerous studies have shown that tired motorists drive worse than drunk drivers. This is because sleep deprivation greatly reduces cognitive functioning, reaction time and many of the necessary skills that people need to operate a motor vehicle safely. When a tried driver gets behind the wheel, he or she puts others on the road at risk for being involved in an auto accident. When tired drivers get behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound truck, the results can be devastating.
In order to reduce the amount of trucking accidents on American roads and highways, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established to create and enforce a number of federal laws and regulations. Some of the most important safety laws are known as Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. These are aimed directly at reducing the amount of driver fatigue related trucking accidents. According to the FMCSA, Hours of Service regulations apply to drivers of freight-bearing commercial vehicles and drivers of passenger carrying commercial vehicles.
Freight Carrying Commercial Vehicle Drivers
Truck driver may only drive for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They are also prohibited from driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour of working.
Passenger Carrying Commercial Vehicle Drivers
Passenger vehicle drivers may only driver a maximum of ten hours after eight consecutive hours off. They may not drive after having been on duty for 15 hours.
In addition to these regulations, there are also additional FMCSA laws regarding working and driving hours in a weekly period. Drivers and trucking companies are also required to maintain extensive documentation and hours of service Logs. When investigating trucking accident cases, our personal injury legal team explores all possible options and analyses all company and driver records in order to determine if regulations were met and whether or not driver fatigue played a role in causing an accident.
Holding Trucking Companies Liable
It is the responsibility of trucking companies to ensure that their vehicles are not operated by tired drivers who place others on the road in tremendous danger. Through full investigations and meticulous preparation, our firm can hold trucking companies liable for failing to comply with federal hours of service regulations.
