The commercial trucking industry may soon see a reduction in fatigue-related truck accidents if a proposed change involving work-hour recording practices takes effect as expected. The new laws will involve truckers’ hours being logged automatically through electronic means as opposed to paper ones, which will likely reduce inaccurate reporting and enhance safety for all motorists, semi accident attorneys note.
Electronic Logging Intended To Limit Truckers To Eight Hours Drive Time Per Day
Currently, the amount of time that truckers are allotted for driving and non-driving tasks each day is 14 hours. However, Marketplace notes that a small percentage of drivers may exceed that regulation since their hours are logged on paper. For example, a trucker may pull off the road after the logged time has begun, to wait out a traffic jam. The trucker will often discount that time by changing information on the paper log. Other drivers may deliberately ignore the federal rule and change their log information to hide the violation.
Now, a proposed rule to the commercial trucking industry by the U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to make long-haul truck drivers more accountable for the amount of time they spend on the road each day. If the rule goes into effect, truckers will have to change from using paper logs to electronic ones. Proponents believe this change will help ensure that truckers don’t surpass the eight hours of driving behind the wheel that they are presently allowed, hopefully making roads and highways across the U.S. that much safer, the website reported.
Injured Drivers or Passengers May Be Entitled to Compensation
Truck drivers and trucking companies have a duty to make sure that they operate and maintain their vehicles in a safe manner. If this duty is not fulfilled, fatal accidents may occur, and the truck driver or trucking company can be held liable for injuries that may result.
Drivers or passengers who are injured in semi truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income or ability to work
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from an injury
If a driver or passenger is killed in a semi truck accident, his or her family members may be able to pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Mental anguish, and pain and suffering from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of relationship or financial support of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering or a loved one prior to death
People who have been injured in a trucking accident are advised to seek a qualified New York semi accident attorney to help them protect their legal rights.
Contact Us For More Information
If you have been injured, or a loved one killed in a semi truck accident, contact Attorney Group for New York to learn more about your options. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for New York today.
