Can Hours of Service Violations Help My Truck Crash Claim?

 Posted on June 13, 2024 in Truck Accidents

Most jobs require you to go through some sort of training before you can do it well. Not only do you need to learn how to do the job, but you also need to learn regulations so that you do not accidentally do something that is against the rules. Being a truck driver is no different. You need a special license to be able to drive a truck, and since these vehicles are so large and powerful, you need to abide by various rules while you are on the road.

One thing truck drivers need to obey is called hours of service. This category of regulations is dedicated to limiting the number of hours truck drivers are legally allowed to drive consecutively and when they are required to take breaks. The purpose of these regulations is to make sure truck drivers are not too tired to drive safely. If you get hurt in a truck accident and you think that the driver violated hours of service regulations at the time of the crash, speak with a trusted El Paso, TX truck accident attorney to discuss how this can impact your personal injury claims.

Necessity of Hours of Service Regulations

Trucking companies are naturally driven by their profit margin. The more deliveries that get made, the more money the company earns. For that reason, it is in the company’s interest to encourage employees to drive as far as possible in as little time as possible. If it takes ten hours to get one delivery from point A to point B, a company would likely prefer for that to be done in the span of one day, and then the driver can begin a new delivery immediately rather than have the job take ten days, with the truck driving for one hour each day. The above example is an exaggeration, but it demonstrates how delivery times can be affected by working hours.

How the Regulations Work

If a driver is caught in violation of federal hours of service regulations, there can be serious consequences. The law enforcement authorities can stop the truck and force it to stay on the side of the road until the driver is considered rested, which would further delay any delivery. The driver could be fined up to several thousand dollars. If the driver can demonstrate that his employer forced him to stay on the road longer than permitted, the company also faces heavy penalties and fines.

This can be a wonderful deterrent preventing companies from encouraging drivers to drive for too many hours consecutively and preventing drivers from trying to do so to rack up more jobs. Since trucks are so large, any small mistake caused by a fatigued driver can have dire consequences for everyone around. Motivating truck drivers to be well-rested is a fantastic way to reduce the number of truck accidents.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an El Paso, TX Truck Crash Lawyer

If you were injured in a collision with a truck, you might face a long recovery ahead. A dedicated El Paso, TX personal injury attorney can review your case and advise you on how to seek maximum compensation. At Cal Mundell Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how devastating and traumatizing a truck accident can be, and we are passionate about seeking the best outcome for our clients so they can turn the page on this painful chapter and get ready to move past it. Call us at 915-250-0700 to schedule a free consultation.