Big rig and 18-wheeler truck accidents are some of the worst traffic accidents that can happen here in Charles County, Maryland, and in other parts of Southern Maryland. Such accidents often cause severe and life-threatening injuries, and many big rig and 18-wheeler accidents result in fatalities.

Fatigue is one reason that these types of accidents occur, and that is one reason that there are “sleep laws” for drivers of big trucks. “Sleep laws” is the common name used, but the rules and regulations are more formally called the Hours of Service (“HOS”) regulations created and maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”), an agency of the federal government located in Washington, D.C.

The HOS regulations are extensive, but a quick summary can be found here. To provide a couple of examples, the regulations state that a big rig/18-wheeler driver may only drive for up to 11 hours maximum and only after 10 consecutive hours off duty—that is, 10 consecutive hours of not driving. The maximum number of hours driving is reduced to 10 hours if the driver has had only eight consecutive hours off duty. As another example, the regulations require that drivers take a 30-minute break when they have driven for eight cumulative hours without a break. As noted, the purpose of these and other HOS regulations is to reduce the number of big rig and 18-wheeler truck accidents caused by fatigue and drowsy driving.

These HOS regulations are important because if you or a loved one has been involved in a big-rig or 18-wheeler truck accident caused by driver fatigue, you are likely entitled to compensation for injuries, property damage, and/or wrongful death. Violation by a driver of the HOS regulations creates legal liability to pay compensation. This liability is imposed on the drivers and their employers and, possibly, others, like the owners of the trucks (who may be different from the driver’s employer). If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, call the top-tier big-rig truck accident lawyers here at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Use our contact page or call us at (301) 870-1200. We have offices in Waldorf, Maryland.

In Maryland, legal liability for traffic accidents is based on the laws of negligence. To be entitled to just and full compensation, a victim must prove that the responsible party owed a duty to the victim and that the duty was violated. This is how the HOS regulations come into play. Every big-rig truck driver has a duty to obey ALL traffic laws and regulations, including the HOS regulations. Thus, if the driver of an 18-wheeler fails to follow the HOS regulations and that failure is the cause of an accident, then the driver is legally liable. As noted, under other legal theories, this also makes the driver’s employer liable and might make the owner of the truck liable.

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 11701 Central Avenue, Suite 200, Waldorf, MD 20601.