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You Will Need Considerable Compensation Following A Truck Accident

Much like car accidents, truck crashes are unfortunately a frequent occurrence on Kentucky roads. The difference is that most trucks are substantially larger than an average compact car, sedan or SUV, leading to crashes that more likely involve serious injuries and damage to personal property.

This is especially true in crashes involving larger trucks such as 18-wheel tractor-trailers weighing up to 80,000 pounds. When these massive trucks collide with smaller vehicles like cars and other passenger vehicles or motorcycles, serious injuries are possible. The attorneys at Shumate, Flaherty, Eubanks & Baechtold have handled many Kentucky truck accident cases and are adept at studying the important details of your case to determine if the other driver was negligent.

Holding Negligent Truck Drivers Accountable

It is no coincidence that the stresses of commercial truck driving can add to the reasons for an accident. In many cases, commercial truck drivers are under tremendous pressure to drive long distances in short periods of time. Fatigued from lack of sleep, a driver may have been inattentive or asleep at the wheel at the time of the crash. By investigating these important details of the case, an attorney at our Richmond, Kentucky, law firm can determine whether a driver and their employer were negligent at the time of the crash.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that as of 2013, commercial truck drivers must adhere to the following rules and limitations:

  • Limit the maximum average workweek for truck drivers to 70 hours, a decrease from the previous maximum of 82 hours
  • Allow truck drivers who reach the maximum 70 hours of driving within a week to resume if they rest for 34 consecutive hours, including at least two nights when their body clock demands sleep the most – from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Require truck drivers to take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift

If a trucking company forces its drivers to violate any of these rules, this could serve as solid evidence of negligence in a truck accident case.

Learn How We Can Help You Today

For immediate assistance following a truck accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Although you may be tempted to take a settlement from an insurance company, this is likely much less than the sum you could receive if you had the assistance of an injury lawyer negotiating on your behalf.

Our attorneys understand the law and are skilled litigators who will unrelentingly advocate for you throughout the case. Strong advocacy is crucial to the success of your truck accident case.

For qualified help obtaining the compensation you need, email the truck accident attorneys of Shumate, Flaherty, Eubanks & Baechtold or call 859-353-0878 for a free consultation today.