Brevard County Truck Accidents Due To Working Long Hours
Truck accidents can lead to serious injuries due to the difference in size between a truck and a car. Recognizing this risk, both state and federal guidelines have been put in place to help regulate the trucking industry. One of the most critical rules a truck driver should follow is the rule that limits the number of hours driven.
Truck accidents caused by hours of service violations can result in serious injuries and financial losses. The attorneys at Charpentier Law Firm in Melbourne, FL have the knowledge necessary to represent victims of these accidents. We will handle your claim and help you obtain compensation for damages.
Trucking Hours Regulations
A key regulation for truckers and trucking companies is how long a driver may stay on the road. When violations occur, the chance of an accident increases due to driver fatigue.
In order to combat this problem, truck driving regulations require the following:
- No driver may exceed between eleven and fourteen hours of consecutive driving.
- All drivers must take breaks as required, depending on their total time behind the wheel.
- The number of hours driven over a consecutive number of days is limited.
Proving a driver has violated these rules requires evidence. It is crucial to request and examine driving logs, as well as the training logs for the company. We will also look at any toll, gas, or food receipts to see if driving logs are accurate.
It can also be helpful to obtain route logs and calculate the time it took to reach the final destination after leaving the point of origin. This data is a good indicator of how long the driver was on the road without taking stops or required breaks.
Depending on the circumstances, the driver may be at fault. However, it is also possible to hold the company accountable due to inadequate training or turning a blind eye to drivers violating hours of service regulations.
What to Do after a Trucking Accident?
If you have been in any type of accident, it is always important to preserve evidence at the scene and gather the information needed to develop the evidence you need in the future when making a claim.
This includes:
- Getting the medical attention you need on scene.
- Documenting the accident scene by taking photos of the cars and trucks, as well as the roadway.
- Asking witnesses to give you a detailed report of what they saw, and taking down their names and phone numbers for use in the future.
Having a list of witness names, doctor reports, and the police report will help tell the story of how the accident happened. This information comes in handy when demanding an amount of compensation that will fully reimburse you for all that has been lost.
Contact a Brevard County Truck Accident Attorney for Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, the attorneys at Charpentier Law Firm can help. We are familiar with the requirements for safe driving habits and will establish liability while seeking full and fair compensation for your injuries. Contact us online or call our office at 321-308-8020.
WE HAVE A HISTORY OF SUCCESS
IN BREVARD COUNTY
Over the past 40-plus years of helping Brevard County's injured and mistreated, our firm has obtained some $65 million in recoveries on behalf of our clients, highlighted by an $15.5 million product liability award.
The team at Charpentier Law Firm has the negotiation skills to reach favorable settlements in many cases, but also has the experience and perseverance to try a case to verdict whenever it is in the best interests of our clients. Our history of success illustrates our dedication to our clients and their pursuit of justice. Our personal injury attorneys in Melbourne, Titusville, and Cocoa are proud to offer superior legal representation to victims and their families throughout Brevard County and Central Florida.