Hours of Service Violations Hurting Other Truckers: Albuquerque Trucking Accident Lawyers
Other Truckers Hurt by Hours of Service Violations in New Mexico Trucking Accidents
Hours of service regulations are by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and are meant to protect against fatigued and tired truck drivers who could cause New Mexico trucking accidents. This includes falling asleep at the wheel which turns a large commercial vehicle into an unguided missile. Our Albuquerque trucking accidents lawyers and other truck drivers know how important hours of service regulations are to keeping all other motorists and pedestrians safe. But as truck drivers particularly know, these regulations are also out there to protect them from other unscrupulous truck drivers. Truck versus truck accidents are particularly devastating and damaging due to the amount of force in a collision.
Individuals hurt in New Mexico trucking accidents due to hours of service violations should call our trucking accident law firm to learn how we can help protect your rights to compensation. Our Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers at the Caruso Law Offices, P.C. can help ensure you obtain the compensation you may deserve for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost future earnings, medical bills, properly damage, and other types of compensation.
Hours of Service Regulations by the FMCSA
The FMCSA regulations on hours of service, or HOS, applies no matter what state the truck is in, where it is traveling, where it is going, or what the truck driver received his or her license from. The hours of service regulations are important to protect motorists and truck drivers from serious trucking accidents.
The HOS regulations under FMCSA provide the following restrictions:
- Maximum 14 hours on shift, following by a minimum of 10 hours off shift;
- Maximum of 8 hours driving consecutively before taking a minimum 30 minute break;
- Maximum of 10 hours working during a 14 hour shift;
- No more than working 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days.
Hours of Service Violations Causing Truck versus Truck Accidents
When a truck driver has operated beyond the hours of service and is in violation of HOS regulations, it can lead to serious trucking accidents. This includes with other large trucks. This is, after all, because truck drivers are using the same space, operating the same long hours, and frequently need to use the same routes (some routes are no-truck allowed), fueling areas, and weigh stations. This means that large trucks are usually near each other and could result in serious trucking accidents upon collision.
Truck drivers hurt by other truck drivers should ask our Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers for help. An injured truck driver may NOT be at fault even if a truck driver has potentially violated the hours of service regulations but was injured by a negligent truck driver who also violated the hours of service violations. This is because the law looks at the proximate cause of the crash. If two truck drivers violated the hours of service regulations, but one truck driver rear ends the other so the victim did not cause or contribute to the crash, the negligent truck driver will be at fault and not the innocent one. The negligent one would most likely be the truck driver who rear ended the other vehicle.
If you or a loved one are seriously injured due to hours of serious violations, or if a loved one is wrongfully killed, ask our Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers to help you. Call to schedule your FREE appointment with our lawyers at the Caruso Law Offices, P.C. by dialing (505) 883-5000.
We handle causes throughout New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Roswell, Cuervo, Rio Rancho, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Albuquerque where our office is located, and anywhere else throughout New Mexico. Please call to schedule for FREE appointment by dialing (505) 883-5000 or contact us through our website’s easy to use and convenient contact box available here.
