Truck Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas
Truck driver fatigue is one of the top causes of truck accidents across the country, including in and around Las Vegas. Research shows that at least 85 percent of all truck accidents are caused by driver error. Just 13 percent of these crashes are due to truck malfunction, bad weather, or poor road conditions. Out of all accidents caused by a trucker error, a full 13 percent are caused by truck driver fatigue.
Falling asleep behind the wheel for truckers has become a major problem in a time-pressed industry where truckers feel stressed and pushed to work long, tiring hours.
Many truckers in Nevada are driven to be behind the wheel beyond what is safe because of low wages and a system that stresses productivity more than safety.
Intense Pressure on Fatigued Truckers During High Volume Periods
When there is a higher demand for shipments, such as during the holidays, trucking companies may pile on more pressure for stressed truck drivers to complete more deliveries in less time. Alarmingly, one out of every four truck drivers said in a recent survey that they have nodded off behind the wheel while driving in the last month. This is absolutely unacceptable because it can lead to serious truck accidents that cause debilitating and even fatal injuries among car drivers and pedestrians.
If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in an accident caused by a fatigued truck driver in Las Vegas, now is the time to contact LV Personal Injury Lawyers.
Zachary D. Clayton and his team of skilled Las Vegas truck accident lawyers will review your case for free and confidentially to determine if it makes sense for you to pursue financial restitution through a personal injury lawsuit.
Federal Regulations To Fight Truck Driver Fatigue
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in 2013 enacted new rules to boost truck driver safety on American roads. The new regulatory controls are intended to reduce truck driver fatigue. Truckers now can work only a maximum of 70 hours per week; this is a decrease from the earlier limit of 82 hours per week.
Further, truck drivers are required to take a rest break of 34 hours after they have driven for 70 hours in one week. This mandatory rest break requires truckers to get rest in the times when the body needs sleep. For most people, these hours are from 1 am to 5 am.
Lastly, the new FMCSA rules require truckers to take a 30-minute rest break during an eight hour driving period. These breaks are designed to help truck drivers to regain focus and energy for their remaining journey.
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Penalties for Not Abiding by FMCSA Mandatory Rest Rules
If a trucking company does not obey the federal rules set forth by the FMCSA, severe penalties can result. Truck drivers who violate the new rest rules for more than three hours may face tough fines of $2750 for every violation. Trucking companies also face tough fines of $11,000 for every offense.
Truck Company Can Be Held Accountable for Reckless Actions of Its Employees
If a fatigued truck driver causes an accident and seriously injured another driver or passenger, the truck driver and the trucking company could be held liable in a Las Vegas personal injury lawsuit.
People who have been hurt in devastating truck accidents caused by tired and drowsy truck operators could have catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Head trauma, such as major brain injuries or concussion
- Broken bones, such as arms, legs, hips, wrists, and ribs
- Spinal injuries, such as ruptured discs and spinal cord damage
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash and dislocated discs
- Internal organ damage, including bladder, liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidney
These severe injuries can easily run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills in a short time. The injured person’s best recourse to cover these immense medical expenses is to pursue financial restitution through a truck accident lawsuit against the company and driver.
Hurt By Fatigued Truck Driver in Las Vegas? Contact LV Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or someone you love has experienced a serious injury because of a fatigued truck driver, you may be experiencing debilitating and serious injuries. To make things worse, you might be looking at a pile of medical bills you can’t afford. This doesn’t even take into consideration the amount of weeks (or worse, months) you may miss at your job.
How can you keep your head above ground? The aggressive and skilled attorneys at LV Personal Injury Lawyers can be of assistance. If the fatigued driver and/or the company he works for was negligent, you might qualify for financial restitution as compensation for your losses and injuries.
For a confidential and free review of your case, contact Zachary D. Clayton, an automobile accident attorney in Las Vegas, today.
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