Truck Driver Fatigue

Tractor-Trailer Crash Attorneys Helping Victims in Chicago and Surrounding Communities

The dedicated attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca represent accident victims throughout Illinois as they pursue claims for compensation from at-fault parties, including commercial drivers and trucking companies. Due to the serious risk of harm posed by commercial vehicles, federal laws and regulations regulate the trucking industry. To reduce potential accidents, some of these laws address common challenges faced by the trucking industry, such as heavy deadlines and driver fatigue. Hours-of-service regulations maintain a set number of hours that truck drivers may work, and they also set forth rest and break periods. Since trucking companies are required to abide by state and often federal trucking laws, a violation of a regulation generally subjects the company and the driver to liability. For decades, our Chicago truck accident lawyers have pursued damages for victims who have been involved in collisions.

Protect Your Rights After a Crash Caused by Truck Driver Fatigue

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets forth regulations that are designed to reduce the number of accidents caused by fatigued truck drivers. Significantly, federal law sets forth the number of hours that a driver is permitted to operate their commercial vehicle. Violating an hours-of-service law exposes the driver and others to a risk of serious harm, since a tired driver is less capable of controlling their vehicle and responding appropriately to hazards on the road.

Truck accident victims usually require immediate medical attention and in some cases may need future surgical procedures and treatment to address their injuries. By pursuing a personal injury claim against the responsible party, victims and their families can potentially recover reimbursement for the costs associated with the accident. In addition to medical costs, damages may cover wages missed from work, property damage, and emotional harm. Punitive damages also sometimes may be available in claims based on truck driver fatigue. This form of damages serves to punish a negligent driver and trucking company while increasing the compensation available to victims.

People who have been harmed in truck accidents caused by a tired driver may seek to hold the driver and potentially the trucking company accountable through a negligence claim. Negligent conduct, such as violating a law or failing to maintain a proper logbook of working hours, may support a legal finding of fault. If the trucking company encouraged its drivers to continue working past the driving hour limits, they may be held partly responsible for the accident.

Some trucking companies compensate drivers by the miles that they travel or the weight that they carry, which encourages drivers to exceed what might be a natural limit to their driving abilities and results in tired driving. Additionally, if evidence surrounding the accident shows that the driver exhibited other behavior that disregarded the safety of others on the road, such as speeding or failing to check a blind spot, this would strengthen the argument that the driver was negligent.

Discuss Your Truck Accident Case with an Experienced Chicago Lawyer

At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we investigate a wide range of strategies on behalf of our clients. Our Chicago truck accident attorneys have helped people in cities such as Springfield, Champaign, Quincy, and Aurora, as well as other areas of Cook, Kane, Sangamon, Champaign, Winnebago, and Adams Counties. By securing evidence that demonstrates a violation of safety regulations or other negligent conduct, we can build a compelling case for a truck crash victim. Contact our office by calling 312-724-5846 or using our online form to schedule a free, confidential appointment with a motor vehicle collision attorney.