Driver Fatigue
Was the driver breaking the law or too tired to drive?
Trucking law is governed by strict state and federal regulations. Professional truck drivers may not drive more than 11 straight hours. They are not allowed to work more than a 14-hour shift or drive more than 60 hours over a seven-day period.
Truckers who fail to obey the law pose a great risk to the public. Were you hit by a truck driver who was violating driving rules and regulations? Was he or she suffering from driver fatigue? Had he taken stimulants or some other substances in order to stay awake?
When Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., in Chicago, Illinois, represents you, your lawyer immediately investigates the cause of your accident and zealously pursues compensation on your behalf.
You can feel confident knowing that we have the skill and the experience to unravel the cause of the truck accident and hold those at fault fully accountable.
Do log book records reveal driver fault?
Federal regulation requires drivers to keep a detailed log of their hours to comply with federal law. We review the log book for information on the hours leading up to the accident for violations in service hours and for falsified log entries. These kinds of issues can contribute to liability for the driver and the trucking company.
Was the driver pressured by the trucking company to violate federal regulations?
Drivers are under pressure by their employers to finish a trucking run in as short a time as possible. The pressure may compel a trucker to violate rules about taking breaks, which can then contribute to an accident.
The drowsiness that a trucker may feel after staying awake for 24 or more straight hours without stopping for rest can lead to all sorts of driving mistakes. For example, the fatigued driver may not see other cars, may not be able to stop quickly enough, and may not be able to accurately judge the distance between the truck and another vehicle. This type of negligence can lead to reckless driving mistakes and to devastating truck accidents.
Free and confidential consultations—no fee unless we get results
We work on a contingency basis. This means that you are only asked to pay if we are successful in achieving a positive outcome for you. Call 312-445-9101 or toll free at 888-489-5581 or contact us online today to discuss your case with an experienced attorney. From our law offices in Chicago, the personal injury attorneys of Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. help people across Chicagoland, greater Illinois and the United States.
