Personal Injury | Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Charleston, WV and Columbus, OH

Fatigued Truck Driver Accidents

We can help when tired truckers cause serious injuries

A common cause of accidents involving commercial trucks is truck driver fatigue. Fatigued drivers are not alert and can easily cause an accident that leaves people with serious injuries. This is also a form of negligence, as there are strict regulations in place designed to prevent fatigue. The truck accident attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC hold negligent truck driver and trucking companies accountable.

Commercial truck drivers operate on a strict schedule. They must get their cargo from point A to point B in a certain amount of time, which means that anything that can potentially slow them down is avoided. Unfortunately, even necessary breaks in the driving schedule can be ignored. Take resting breaks, for example.

Fatigue is just as serious a concern as driving drunk

While a little exhaustion may not seem like something to bother about, enough fatigue can actually impair a driver just as much as alcohol or drug intoxication. Fatigued drivers have slowed reaction times and make bad decisions. When they are behind the wheel of a big rig weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, this can have disastrous consequences.

That is why the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), along with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) instituted an Hours of Service (HOS) regulation for all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. It limits the number of hours a driver can spend on the road each day and each week. Drivers are also required to take regular breaks.

Unfortunately, some drivers don't follow these regulations. And some trucking companies give their drivers schedules that are not realistic. Drivers spend extra hours on the road trying to make up time. This leads to fatigue and too often, a serious truck accident.

If you've been hurt, our law firm can help

Getting into a crash with a fatigued truck driver can cause catastrophic injuries such as amputation, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. These injuries are life-altering, and victims often require medical treatment for the rest of their lives. They are also often left unable to work, resulting in a loss of income.

Our attorneys fight to recover compensation for victims of fatigued truck driver accidents. Our legal team carefully reviews HOS logs to see if the driver followed federal regulations. When we find evidence of negligence, we build a strong case that the insurance company has to take seriously. We have achieved many significant outcomes for clients through negotiated settlements and court verdicts.

If you or a loved one was involved in a truck accident that may have been caused by a fatigued driver, contact us today. One of our accident attorneys can review your case and answer your questions during a free consultation.

Charleston, WV

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
10 Hale St Suite 501
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 720-1000

Columbus, OH

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
20 E Broad St Suite 1000
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 587-8423