Truck Driver Fatigue in Chattanooga
If you were severely injured or a loved one was killed in an accident caused by a tired truck driver, you may not know where to turn for help. Truck wrecks are typically complex cases that could involve multiple responsible parties and complex federal regulations. You need an experienced truck wreck attorney on your side who can investigate the case thoroughly, determine the cause, and pursue the money you need to try to move on with your life.
Personal Injury Attorney at Davis Firm, LLC in Chattanooga has experience with many kinds of personal injury cases. He knows the all games insurance companies play with accident victims, and he’ll fight for the compensation you need and deserve.
Davis Firm, LLC serves clients in Tennessee and Georgia. Call us or contact us online now to schedule a free consultation and evaluation of your case.
Regulations Governing Rest for Truck Drivers
Federal regulations require that all truck drivers must take frequent breaks to prevent driving while fatigued. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the mandatory amount of rest to be taken by truck drivers and limits the number of hours in the day that truck drivers can work. These regulations are sometimes referred to as Hours of Service regulations.
The Hours of Service rules limit truck drivers to driving a maximum of 14 consecutive hours after taking 10 consecutive hours of rest. The FMCSA requires that 8 out of the 10 hours of a driver’s period of rest be spent in a sleeper berth compartment.
The FMCSA also restricts the number of days that a driver can operate a truck. A truck driver is not allowed to continue driving after operating a truck for 70 hours over an 8-day span. A truck driver may then continue driving only after taking a 34-hour break.
The FMCSA requires that truck drivers keep Hours of Service log books. These log books track the numbers of hours the driver worked and the numbers of hours they took for breaks and sleep. Truck driver log books are subject to inspection by law enforcement officials. However, many truckers falsify their log books – sometimes with the encouragement of their employer.
Truck drivers in Tennessee and Georgia must follow the Hours of Service rules. Scott Davis, a truck accident attorney at Davis Firm, LLC, understands how to conduct an Hours of Service investigation for people who have been injured in an accident caused by a truck driver. Clients throughout Tennessee and Georgia have turned to Davis Firm, LLC for years for legal help after a truck wreck.
Signs of Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck driver fatigue is caused by driving for too many consecutive hours and taking too few breaks for rest and sleep. Fatigue causes truck drivers to become drowsy, which puts the lives of other motorists at risk.
If you’ve ever seen fatigued truck driver swerving, crossing into oncoming lanes, going too slow or too fast, or other signs of fatigued driving, then you know it can be a scary experience for even the bravest of automobile drivers.
Fatigue can cause a variety of physical symptoms that include yawning, red and blurry eyes, and confused speech. Truck drivers who are fatigued may also become overly aggressive or experience road rage. They may drink caffeinated beverages or smoke cigarettes to try to make their minds and bodies appear to be more alert and awake and combat fatigue, but these methods are mostly ineffective.
Fatigued truck drivers often show erratic and unpredictable behavior. Signs that a truck may be under the operation of a fatigued driver include:
- Swerving between lanes
- Speeding
- Driving at dangerously slow rates
- Failing to yield to merging traffic
- Neglecting to use turn signals
- Tailgating
- Drifting onto the shoulder
- Failing to use headlights at night
If you were involved in a truck accident and you believe the truck driver showed signs of fatigue, you should contact the truck accident attorneys at Davis Firm, LLC to determine your legal rights and options.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hit by a Fatigued Truck Driver
If you’ve been hit by a truck that was being driven by a tired truck driver, you are not alone. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study reported that 13 percent of commercial motor drivers were fatigued at the time of a crash. Unfortunately, fatigue-related truck accidents often result in serious injuries or fatalities.
There are legal consequences involved when a truck driver violates the FMCSA Hours of Service regulations, especially if the violation results in a truck accident that injures the driver of another vehicle. Trucking company operators may also be held liable for the injuries caused to victims of fatigue-related trucking accidents.
Truck drivers and trucking companies can be held accountable for your injuries for failing to comply with FMCSA Hours of Service regulations. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident caused by an overly tired or sleepy truck driver in Tennessee or Georgia, Attorney Scott Davis at Davis Firm, LLC can help you pursue a negligence claim and effectively represent you in court and in settlement negotiations.
How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You
If you’ve been injured by a fatigued truck driver in Tennessee or Georgia, you should contact our experienced truck accident attorneys for help. With over 15 years of experience, Davis Firm, LLC has helped hundreds of injured clients get the compensation that they deserve. Davis Firm, LLC represents injured clients in even the most difficult truck accident cases, including those that involve violations of Hours of Service rules.
Attorney Scott Davis at Davis Firm, LLC knows how to properly investigate the accident to determine if truck driver fatigue played a role in causing your injuries. The legal team at Davis Firm, LLC knows how to hold truck drivers and trucking company operators liable for crashes caused by driver fatigue. With over 200 cases sent to a verdict and many more settled before trial, our truck accident attorneys are prepared to fight for you to be compensated for your injuries, lost wages, and other losses that result from an accident caused by a tired trucker.
Contact Our Chattanooga Truck Accident Attorneys Today
If you’ve been injured by a tired truck driver in Tennessee or Georgia, contact the trusted Chattanooga injury attorneys at Davis Firm, LLC today. We can immediately begin dealing with all the parties involved so that you can put your focus back where it belongs — on healing from your injuries.