Sacramento Truck Accident Attorneys

Unrealistic Schedules and Trucking Accidents in California

If you have been involved in a trucking accident that resulted in you sustaining injuries you need to speak with our Sacramento truck accident attorney to see if you may be entitled to compensation. Trucking companies can be hard on their drivers, forcing unrealistic schedules and travel times on their truck drivers. As a result, the trucking company can be held liable for damages should this result in a trucking accident.

Despite both federal and state laws that regulate how many hours' truck drives are allowed to drive in any one 24-hour period, many truck drivers continue to drive without adequate rest because they are pressured to stick to unrealistic schedules. Logs are doctored and in some cases truck drivers turn to controlled substances to help them stay awake. This type of behavior can lead to a horrific outcome - serious injuries that are often life changing or in the worst cases death. 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes rules and regulations, which govern commercial vehicles and the trucking companies that operate big rigs. Such rules and regulations are designed to make interstate highways safer.

In January of 2004, FMCSA implemented new "hours-of-service" regulations for truck drivers, which increase the required off-duty period both daily and weekly. Under the new rules, interstate commercial truck drivers are restricted to driving for no more than 11 hours (or 14 hours from the time they start a duty shift) at a time and then they are required to take a 10-hour break. 

In addition, truck drivers are not allowed to drive once they have accrued 60 work hours during any 7-day period or 70 work hours during any 8-day period. However, there is a "restart" provision that does allow truck drivers to drive again after 34 hours of off duty, allowing truck drivers to log up to 77 hours in 7 days or 88 hours in 8 days. Yet despite these rules, many truck drivers continue to drive for more than 11 hours at a time and for more than 60 hours in a one-week period.

You Need the Experience of Our Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyers

Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their drivers are properly trained and understand the importance of appropriate breaks as well as the allowed driving schedule previously discussed. If a trucking accident occurs because of lack of training or a truck driver's failure to drive safely, then the trucking company and/or the truck driver may be held liable. 

At the Sacramento Truck Accident Law Firm, our attorneys have the necessary skills to determine if lack of training, unrealistic schedules, or some other negative factor caused the accident. Our Sacramento truck accident lawyers have the experience, the expertise, and the resources to successfully litigate truck accident claims. For years we have helped truck accident victims receive compensation for their injuries, as well as damages such as medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, and more.