Fatigued and sleep deprived commercial drivers have proven to be a relentless problem for motorists and legislators in the Del Rio area. Often times these truck drivers will disregard the rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that prevent them from driving over 8 hours without a break. Truck drivers will sometimes falsify their logbooks, sneaking past these rules in order to receive more money or arrive at their destinations on time. This practice often creates fatigue and causes major accidents that can affect you or your family. If you have been involved in any Del Rio 18-wheeler accidents, contact the attorneys at Carabin Shaw to receive the compensation you deserve.
FMCSA Rules and Regulations for Commercial Truck DriversAs said previously, truck drivers not only have to take a break every 8 hours according to FMCSA rules, but they are also only allowed to drive up to 11 hours in a day. Additionally, truck drivers are limited to 70 total hours a week of driving, with some allowance for overtime. Because drivers are paid by distance rather than by time, these rules effectively bottleneck their daily income, tempting many drivers to falsify information entered into their logbooks.
Moreover, some companies penalize drivers for arriving at a drop-off or pickup late, adding one more reason a driver will travel for over the maximum amount of time allowed and then proceed to lie about it by falsifying their logbooks. This is not only a federal offense, but absolutely dangerous to the drivers around them. It has been proven to be one of the FMCSA’s biggest problems causing them to invest in new technology that will prevent the falsification of logbooks.
Electronic Logging Devices in Del Rio (ELDs)Starting in December 2017, FMCSA will bring about a new era to commercial truck driving around the United States by implementing electronic logging devices. This means that truckers will now be required to go paperless with their logs. ELDs are connected to a driver's engine, tracking the amount of time they are at the wheel through the vehicle’s own instruments. By automating this process, the FMCSA hopes to prevent any falsification of logbooks, in turn making the streets of Del Rio safer spaces.
ELDs are projected to prevent almost up to 2,000 accidents annually. This $1.6 billion industry is booming in the anticipation of FMCSA’s mandate, as many companies who design these ELDs are battling for the contract to supply over 3 million truckers with their devices. The competition is good – as long as these devices work and prevent truck drivers from operating their vehicles with negligence.
The Effects of Negligent Commercial DriversELDs will surely decrease Del Rio 18-wheeler sleep deprivation and fatigue accidents when the time comes for them to be implemented into all commercial trucking vehicles. Until that time, you are still at risk of being involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler. In Del Rio, 18-wheeler sleep deprivation and fatigue regularly creates situations that can yield serious injuries. These injuries include:
These accidents don’t just cause serious injuries, they also harm your pocket book. Not only are hospital bills from an accident with an 18-wheeler extremely expensive, you’ve also likely completely lost the investment of vehicle and worse, precious income from your inability to work. This financial disaster coinciding with your injuries is a difficult concoction to swallow on your own.
Call the Lawyers at Carabin ShawIf you live in Del Rio and have suffered from a Del Rio 18-wheeler sleep deprivation and fatigue accident, contact an attorney at Carabin Shaw. Our lawyers at Carabin Shaw’s Del Rio location have over 20 years of experience dealing with litigation against commercial truck driving accidents and aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve.
By hiring a Del Rio 18-wheeler accident attorney, you are guaranteeing that your case will be handled with the utmost importance, expertise, and care. Call today for a free consultation with our bilingual attorneys at 800-862-1260.