Boca Raton Truck Accident Lawyer
Truckers provide a vital service. They carry crucial supplies across the nation and help drive the national economy. Many of these large trucks travel the highways and city streets of Boca Raton daily. Unfortunately, when accidents occur involving large trucks, severe injuries can occur.
Negligent truck drivers can be held liable for the accidents they cause. There are numerous requirements and regulations truckers must follow when carrying supplies through Boca Raton. When rules are broken, truck accidents can happen. Our Boca Raton truck accident lawyers can help prove that you suffered injuries because of a careless or reckless truck driver.
If you were injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, get help recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Boca Raton truck accident lawyers today by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (954) 951-4828 for a free case review.
Hours of Service Regulations for Property Carrying Truck Drivers in Boca Raton
Many truck accidents are caused by driver fatigue. Drivers who have been on the road for too long can lose focus and commit errors behind the wheel, leading to accidents. Accordingly, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented hours of service regulations to prevent accidents caused by driver fatigue.
Hours of service regulation prevent driver fatigue by limiting the number of driving hours per day and the number of working hours per week. If a truck driver fails to abide by these regulations and causes an accident, the driver and his employer may be held liable. If you suffered an accident caused by a negligent trucker, our Boca Raton truck accident lawyers can help determine if the driver violated any of the following hours of service regulations for property carrying drivers:
11 Hour Driving Limit
Truckers may drive for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours of off duty. Truckers must take 10 consecutive hours off after driving for 11 hours. Drivers who break this driving limit can become tired, causing them to make mistakes. Commercial trucking employers and drivers may be held liable for accidents that occur because they exceeded the 11-hour driving limit.
14 Hour On-Duty Limit
In addition to the 11-hour driving limit, truckers may only remain on-duty for 14 consecutive hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers may not extend the 14 hour on-duty period with breaks, meals, or fuel stops.
60/70 Hour On-Duty Limit
Furthermore, truckers may not be on duty more than 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or more than 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. Drivers may restart their 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. Truck drivers and their employers may also be held liable for accidents that occur after breaking on-duty time limits.
30 Minute Driving Break
Truck drivers must take a 30 minute driving break after driving for a period of 8 cumulative hours without taking at least a half hour interruption. These breaks can allow truckers to refresh and avoid fatigue. Our Boca Raton truck accident lawyers can investigate if an accident was caused because a driver failed to take his required 30-minute break.
Sleeper Birth Provision
The sleeper berth provision allows truckers to extend their shifts by splitting the required 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time into two shifts. In other words, truckers don’t have to take all 10 hours off consecutively at once.
The rule states that drivers can split their off-duty time if one of the shifts is at least 2 hours long and the other shift is comprised of at least 7 consecutive hours spent in the sleeping compartment of their vehicle.
Adverse Driving Conditions
The adverse driving conditions exception allows truck drivers extra time to complete their routes after experiencing unexpected delays caused be weather. This rule keeps truck drivers from rushing down the roads through dangerous weather, potentially causing accidents. This rule extends the 11 hour maximum driving limit and 14 hour driving window by up to 2 hours when adverse conditions are encountered.
Accordingly, truck drivers should not feel the need to hurry through dangerous conditions. If you suffered an accident because a truck driver was operating his vehicle recklessly under adverse weather conditions, our Boca Raton truck accident lawyers may help recover compensation.
Damages Available in Boca Raton Trucking Accident Lawsuits
Victims of trucking accidents often suffer severe or even fatal injuries. Monetary may be awarded to those who suffered an accident because of a negligent truck driver. The following categories of damages all serve to heal the physical pain, emotional anguish, and financial distressed caused by trucking accidents in Boca Raton:
Economic Damages
Trucking accident victims may recover economic damages related to a crash. Economic damages refer to financial damages that are often easily quantifiable. Examples of economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, child care expenses, and other out of pocket expenses incurred because of an accident. Our Boca Raton trucking accident lawyers can help recover economic damages in your case.
Noneconomic Damages
Furthermore, victims may also recover noneconomic damages caused by a negligent truck driver. Noneconomic damages are subjective damages that can be harder to quantify such as pain and suffering. The process of proving noneconomic damages can be more complicated than economic. Therefore, the assistance of our Boca Raton trucking accident lawyers can be highly valuable when fighting for noneconomic damages.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded. Punitive damages seek to punish a defendant for grossly negligent behavior and discourage similar conduct. For example, courts in Boca Raton may award punitive damages in a case involving an employer that forced their truck drivers to violate hours of service regulations. Our Boca Raton trucking accident lawyers can help evaluate whether punitive damages will be available in your case.
If You Were Injured in a Trucking Accident in Boca Raton, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, seek assistance from our experienced Boca Raton truck accident lawyers today by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (954) 951-4828 for a free case review.