How Do Hours-of-Service Violations Contribute to Truck Accidents?

Hours-of-service violations may contribute to truck accidents when commercial drivers stay behind the wheel longer than federal rules allow or fail to take required off-duty or break time. Excessive driving can increase fatigue, which can slow reaction time and impair judgment. Inaccurate or falsified driving records may also conceal hours-of-service violations and become important evidence after a serious collision.

For people in Boulder, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland, CO, Jeffress Law, PC, brings a small-firm level of personal attention to injury cases. Christopher W. Jeffress has represented injured individuals since 1994 after beginning his legal career representing insurance companies and large corporations. That background gives him firsthand knowledge of how insurers evaluate and defend injury claims.

What Are the Hours-of-Service Rules for Truck Drivers?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limits how long many commercial truck drivers can drive and remain on duty. For property-carrying vehicles, drivers generally can drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and can’t drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. A 30-minute break is also generally required after eight cumulative hours of driving, subject to applicable exceptions.

These rules matter because exhaustion can affect a trucker’s ability to notice slowing traffic, judge distance, stay within a lane, or respond quickly to a hazard.

How Can a Violation Help Establish Liability?

An hours-of-service violation doesn’t automatically decide who caused a crash. It may, however, supply evidence that unsafe driving practices played a role.

A truck accident investigation can examine electronic logging device data, driver logs, dispatch and trip records, bills of lading, schedules, expense receipts, electronic communications, payroll records, and other relevant documents. These records can help establish how long the driver had been working and driving before the collision. 

Responsibility may also extend beyond the trucker. A motor carrier could share liability when company practices, unrealistic deadlines, or other conduct contributed to unsafe driving. Jeffress Law investigates truck crashes to identify the parties whose actions contributed to the collision.

Get Legal Help After a Colorado Truck Accident

Because federal rules require motor carriers to retain many hours-of-service records for a limited period, obtaining and preserving relevant evidence early matters. Chris Jeffress draws on decades of injury law experience and his prior insurance-defense background when pursuing compensation for people hurt in commercial vehicle crashes.

If you’ve been injured in Boulder, Fort Collins, Longmont, or Loveland, CO, contact Jeffress Law, PC, at 303-993-8685 to discuss your case.