In California, a truck driver must take a 30-minute break during their first 8 hours of driving every day that they drive. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Association wanted this rule put away a few months ago, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration denied that petition. The break requirement stays, and many are wondering: How will this affect personal injury cases involving commercial trucks?
The CVSA’s position on the break regulations
The CVSA, which represents the interests of truck and bus inspectors, claimed that break requirements didn’t actually improve highway safety and were hard to enforce. They also said that the real result was just truck drivers doctoring their log books – which led to increased rates. Note that the regulations have been in place since 2013 so there was ample time for them to assess the results on the regulations.
The FMCSA does not agree
The FMCSA is clear that they believe that public safety is improved by these mandatory breaks. They also say that there’s ample evidence that the idea of breaks being hard to regulate is false as well. In fact, from 2013 – 2015, there are many, many citations for drivers who failed to take breaks, which the FMCSA claims is evidence that it is enforceable.
Are breaks really that important?
The problem with truck accidents is that they do more than cause property damage. They often lead to catastrophic injuries for both the truck driver and those in other vehicles the truck may collide with. This is easy to understand when you consider the huge weight and large size of commercial trucks. A collision with a truck can lead to debilitating injuries that lead to round-the-clock-care.
In the event that breaks can help truck drivers avoid accidents, we at Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas certainly believe that they are a good idea. It stands to reason that anyone driving for more than eight hours straight may become distracted, tired, or otherwise have symptoms that could potentially lead to a collision. Whether mandated breaks are the answer or not remains to be seen.
What to do if you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck
If you or a loved one has been involved in a collision with a commercial truck then you need to speak to a personal injury attorney. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we have decades of experience we can use to ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to. When you work with us, you can count on a no fee without recovery arrangement, which essentially means that you only pay if we recover for you.
To learn more about your options, and to get a free case evaluation, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas today at 909-982-0707. Your compensation could include past and future medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more.
