Miami Truck Driver Fatigue

Federal rules require commercial truck drivers to obey Hours of Service rules. These rules require commercial truck drivers in Miami and across the country to drive for no more than 11 hours in every 14 hour day and mandate a ten hour rest period before driving again. Truck drivers are also required by law to drive no more than 60-77 hours in a seven-day week. Drivers must take a continuous two and a half day break before starting a new week. Under federal rules, truck drivers are also expected to keep a log of hours driven and breaks and rests they have taken. These rules are meant to prevent car and truck accidents in Miami and across the country, but unfortunately some truck drivers violate the rules and this recklessness causes traffic collisions.

Being involved in a collision with a big rig or tractor trailer is a devastating experience – one that can leave you with life=long scars and injuries. If you have been injured in a car or truck crash in Miami or any surrounding area, feel free to contact Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 for a free accident consultation to get legal advice from an attorney about your specific situation.

Unfortunately, truck drivers and motor carriers sometimes have a financial incentive for cutting back the number of rest hours that truck drivers take. The longer that a truck driver sits behind the wheel and stays on the road, the more money he or she stands to make. For motor carriers, having a truck driver on the roads for longer costs less than having multiple truck drivers on the roads.

There is no excuse, however, for allowing a truck driver who is dangerously tired to get behind the wheel. Both motor carriers and truck drivers have a responsibility to ensure that trucks are safe when they are sharing the road with cars and other vehicles.

It's very simple: tired truck drivers are very dangerous truck drivers. Truck drivers who are tired can make preventable mistakes that lead to a collision or they can even fall asleep behind the wheel of the vehicle and lose control of the truck. Each year, people are killed or seriously injured because a truck driver made poor decisions or drove when they were not qualified to do so.

Have you been involved in a truck accident or car accident in Miami or another Florida community? In many cases, it is difficult to tell whether fatigue played a role or not. This is one reason why it is so important to consult with a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney in Miami or your city can review the specifics of your case and can investigate the accident fairly. If fatigue or other signs of recklessness played a role in your accident, you may be qualified for compensation that can help pay for medical costs, lost wages, and other damages related to your injuries.

If you have been injured by a truck accident and believe that the truck driver was fatigued or fell asleep behind the wheel, contact Flaxman Law Group to discuss your situation with a personal injury attorney in a no-cost consultation.