Too Many Hours on the Road
Demonstrating Driver Fatigue in South Carolina Truck Accidents
A sleepy truck driver behind the wheel of a 40-ton tractor trailer puts all other motorists in danger. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets strict limits on the number of hours that truckers can drive without rest. Some Commercial drivers and the trucking companies that employ them falsify their log books to get around the regulations — sometimes with deadly results.
If you were seriously injured or a family member was killed in a trucking accident, our Charleston law firm thoroughly investigates to determine if driver fatigue or driver negligence was a factor. Allan P. Sloan III has handled more than 45 truck accident cases in the Tri-County area and across South Carolina. He is a member of the National Advisory Board of the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America. Call 843-722-7733 for a free initial consultation.
Representing clients throughout the Tri-County area, including Sumter, Orangeburg, Williamsburg, Clarendon, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Allendale, Richland, Beaufort, Hampton, Darlington, Colleton, Florence, Berkely, and Dorchester.
Truck Driver Fatigue and Log Book Violations
Drivers of 18-wheelers and other over-the-road commercial vehicles must comply with federal Hours of Service limits:
- No more than 11 hours driving following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- No more than 14 total hours driving and working after starting his shift
- No more than 60 hours in an 7-day period or 70 hours in 8 days
Aside from the danger of actually falling asleep at the wheel, studies show that truck drivers who exceed these limits are measurably less alert and react slower to crisis situations. Some drivers break the rules because they are paid per mile — the more they drive the more they are paid. Other times, drivers are pressured by the trucking company to speed and/or exceed Hours of Service to meet delivery deadlines.
Commercial drivers are required to keep a detailed log book of their trips. In order to hide hours of service violations - some truck drivers illegally falsify their log books. It is the trucking company's duty to enforce the Hours of Service and ensure that their drivers are not falsifying log books and violating the hours of service. Our lawyers have many times successfully used satellite tracking (GPS) records, the truck's "black box" data recorder, phone records, gas receipts, bills of lading, witness accounts and other information to prove that the driver falsified log books — and that the company condoned it or ordered the driver to break the rules.
Allan P. Sloan, III knows what to look for, which experts to hire, and how to present a truck accident case to the insurance carriers or a jury to maximize compensation for our clients. Contact us today to discuss your trucking accident.
