Truck Drivers Carry Special Responsibility When on the Road

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Orland Park Personal Injury Lawyer

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 9,739 reported tractor-trailer crashes in 2012, which resulted in 94 fatalities and over 2,000 injuries. Due to the size and cargo weight of tractor-trailers, truck drivers have specific safety regulations they must follow when on the road.

It is necessary for truck drivers to check for defective equipment and faulty brakes before starting their shifts. They must have adequate experience driving a commercial truck and abide by the limitations that have been implemented regarding the amount of drive time they are allowed per week.

Federal regulations have been put into place to help prevent the number of trucking accidents that occur every year. The rules require drivers to:

• Not exceed a maximum of 70 hours of drive time per work week, a decrease from the previously approved 82 hours;
• Take 30-minute breaks during the beginning hours of a shift; and
• Resume driving after the maximum hours have been met, only if there has been a rest period of 34 consecutive hours.

These road rules are imperative to protect both truck drivers and other passenger vehicles on the road. Driver fatigue is one of the top causes of accidents. In fact, commercial truck drivers who are fatigued are involved in multi-vehicle collisions resulting in one in four vehicle deaths every year.

Both the truck driver and the trucking company must ensure proper training, updated and accurate logbook records, and enforcement of all safety regulations. If there is failure to follow these protocols, then the likelihood of traffic-related injuries or death increases and trucking parties must be held accountable.

There are major differences in handling truck accident cases versus ones that only involve cars. Injuries can often be more severe due to a truck’s size and the force of its impact. Our attorneys are knowledgeable in the application of state and federal trucking laws and the investigation required to put together a successful claim.