Driver fatigue has been identified as a frequent factor in trucking accidents. It is understandable that driver fatigue becomes an issue for many truck drivers. Truck drivers are often paid by loads delivered and timeliness of delivery, not by the hour. They have built-in incentives to driver farther and faster whenever possible.
Federal trucking regulations include requirements for truck drivers to maintain daily logs to document truck maintenance, hours of rest for the driver and so on. Federal laws also dictate how many hours of rest a trucker should have in between periods of driving. In spite of these precautions, truck drivers often push the limits and find ways to drive more while resting less than they should.
If you were injured or if a family member was killed in a truck accident, you should contact an experienced, knowledgeable and accomplished truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner an investigation gets underway, the more evidence will be available and obtainable. Clear evidence of the cause of the truck accident can help to build a strong case for your compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
A truck driver’s log often tells the story that leads to a conclusion that driver fatigue was a strong factor in a truck accident. Some drivers keep dual logs: a contrived one is the official one, and the other tells the truth. It is important for investigators to review the driver’s trucking log or logs while they are still available. Federal law specifies that truck drivers may not destroy or dispose of their logs for a certain period of time.
The sooner you have a truck accident attorney on your case, the more likely it is that all contributing factors, such as driver fatigue or an overloaded truck, will be taken into account.
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