Driving while drowsy is dangerous. Fatigue severely impairs a driver’s reaction time and decision-making abilities, and falling asleep at the wheel can easily lead to catastrophic accidents. When the drowsy driver in question is operating a commercial truck, these dangers escalate significantly.
To prevent fatigued driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces strict regulations known as hours of service. However, truck accident attorneys in Kansas City have seen some truckers and companies bend or break these rules while traveling in Kansas City—leading to serious accidents.
What Are the FMCSA Hours of Service Regulations?
The FMCSA hours of service regulations establish when and for how long a truck driver can operate a commercial vehicle. Property-carrying commercial drivers must follow these key restrictions:
- Drivers cannot exceed 11 hours of driving after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- Drivers cannot operate beyond 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty.
- Drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 cumulative hours.
- Drivers cannot drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 days.
These regulations are designed to ensure drivers remain alert and capable of safely operating their vehicles. Trucking companies and drivers must maintain accurate logbooks to document their compliance with these rules.
How Do Hours of Service Violations Lead to Accidents?
When truck drivers exceed legal hours of service limits, fatigue inevitably sets in. Drowsy driving affects many of the functions that are key to safe driving, such as:
- Reaction time and ability to respond to emergencies
- Judgment and decision-making capabilities
- Awareness of surroundings and potential hazards
- Ability to maintain proper lane position and speed
Commercial drivers can face pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines or maximize earnings. As a result, they might falsify logbooks, skip required breaks, or continue driving beyond safe limits. When drivers violate hours of service regulations, they can easily lose focus, make a critical error, or even fall asleep at the wheel.
Due to the massive size and weight of a commercial vehicle, even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to a catastrophic collision. Even with the right training and experience, a fatigued trucker lacks the physical capacity to safely control the complex systems of a commercial truck.
Your Options for Compensation After a Truck Accident in Kansas City
If you were injured in an accident caused by a fatigued truck driver, you have the right to pursue legal action. With help from an experienced personal injury attorney in Kansas City, you can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for the hours of service violation, including the driver and the trucking company that pressured the driver to break the rules.
By filing a Kansas City truck accident claim, you can recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Property repairs and replacement
- Long-term care needs and modifications to your home
Begin Your Legal Journey with Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe
When drowsy truckers get behind the wheel of massive rigs, innocent people pay the price with their lives and well-being. If you have been injured by a fatigued truck driver, trust the lawyers at Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe to fight for your rights. Our Kansas City truck accident attorneys dig deep into logbooks, electronic records, and company policies to expose violations and hold negligent parties accountable. Contact us at (816) 876-2600 for a free consultation and let us fight for the full compensation you deserve.