Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers | February 7, 2025 | Personal Injury
Truck driver fatigue can increase the risk of truck accidents. Federal and state laws limit the number of hours a truck driver can legally drive before taking a break. FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) sets hours of service (HOS) rules for commercial truck drivers.
If you were in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, you could be entitled to compensation; contact a Columbus truck accident lawyer for legal assitance. Truck drivers must follow federal hours of service rules regardless of whether they drive nationally or within one state. However, states like Ohio enact additional laws for truck driver hours of service that apply for intrastate trucking (driving only within Ohio). State and federal HOS regulation aims to make roads safer for everyone.
What Are the Federal Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers?
The federal hours of service rules for truck drivers require mandatory breaks. The rules limit the number of hours a truck driver can operate a commercial motor vehicle without taking rest periods and breaks. The federal HOS regulations state:
- A driver is limited to 11 hours of driving after spending a minimum of 10 hours off duty.
- A truck driver cannot drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty after spending a minimum of 10 hours off duty.
- A mandatory 30-minute break is required after a truck driver has been driving for 8 hours without an interruption of at least 30 minutes.
- The 30-minute mandatory break may be spent in any non-driving manner.
- Adverse driving conditions extend the 11-hour driving maximum and 14-hour driving window by up to two hours.
- Truck drivers cannot drive after being on duty for 60 hours during a 7-day period or 70 hours during an 8-day period.
- The 7 or 8-day period restarts after the truck driver spends a minimum of 34 hours off duty.
Ohio adopted the federal HOS regulations for truck drivers, with the addition of a few additional regulations for intrastate truck drivers.
Why Are Mandatory Break Periods Important for Commercial Truck Drivers?
Fatigue can cause a decrease in performance, which increases the risk of a truck accident. Fatigue and drowsiness can reduce attention, cause slower response times, and cause poor decision-making. Commercial truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries and deaths. Over 70% of the injuries and fatalities in truck accidents are people in other vehicles.
Victims suffer life-threatening injuries, including spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, complex fractures, and loss of limbs. Catastrophic injuries often result in life-long impairments and disabilities.
Hours of service regulations can reduce the risk of fatigued truck driver accidents. Preventing truck accidents means lives and injuries are prevented.
How Can Fatigue and Drowsiness Contribute to the Cause of a Truck Accident?
The effects of fatigue can result in poor driving decisions and mistakes. Examples of ways fatigue could contribute to the cause of a truck accident include:
- Drifting into other lanes
- Falling asleep while driving
- Impaired alertness, which could contribute to a rear-end accident
- Decreased focus and attention could result in the driver failing to notice conditions that can cause an accident, such as turning in front of another vehicle
- Inability to process situational data and respond promptly and adequately, such as taking evasive action when a vehicle cuts the truck off
- Failing to slow down when necessary, which could lead to a jackknife accident
One or more parties could be responsible for your damages. However, you must prove they caused the truck accident to hold them liable.
Who Is Responsible for Damages Caused by Fatigued Truck Driver Accidents in Ohio?
A truck accident victim sustains physical injuries and emotional harm. Non-economic damages compensate them for their pain and suffering, including diminished quality of life. However, an accident victim also incurs financial losses because of a truck accident. These economic damages include loss of income, medical expenses, and out-of-pocket costs.
The law holds parties who cause accidents legally liable for the victim’s damages. Therefore, if a truck driver causes an accident, they can be liable for damages. However, the trucking company could be liable for their employee’s negligence under vicarious liability.
Other parties could be liable for the damages. An experienced Columbus truck accident attorney investigates the crash to determine how it happened and who contributed to the cause of the truck accident.
Contact the Truck Accidents Law Firm of Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced lawyer at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Columbus, OH, and Charleston, WV.
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