Tractor trailers are the most dangerous vehicles that
regularly travel on our roads. Their immense size and weight are not only
intimidating to drivers of smaller vehicles, but increase the risk of serious
injury or even death in the case of a truck crash. This risk is heightened when
truck drivers are negligent or reckless in their operation of the truck. One of
the most common truck accident causes in Massachusetts and across the nation, related to truck
operator negligence, is fatigued driving.
Hours-of-Service
Regulations
Fatigued driving is dangerous for all drivers, but
especially big rig drivers, which is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) established Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations to limit
the amount of time a truck operator can drive. Every truck driver must log
their hours and not exceed the maximum amount without stopping for the
appropriate rest breaks. Unfortunately, many drivers falsify their logs and
continue driving beyond the allowed number of hours in order to make deliveries
faster, which often results in higher pay and/or bonuses.
Effects of Fatigued
Driving
Driving while drowsy or tired has a variety of negative
consequences, all of which are more dangerous when the vehicle in question is
an 80,000 pound semi truck. Fatigued driving can result in all or any
combination of the below dangerous actions, though these are only a sample of
the things that could go wrong:
- Drifting into other lanes of traffic;
- Failure to brake;
- Improper braking;
- Sudden changes in speed;
- Poorly navigating turns; and
- Losing control of the truck.
Contacting a
Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney
At the Kiley Law Group, our experienced truck accident lawyers in Boston are committed to helping truck accident victims
in Massachusetts pursue maximum compensation for the losses they’ve suffered as
a result of truck driver negligence. To find out more about how we can help
you, call us today for a free legal consultation at (888)
208-1695.