Ask James Murphy a Question

Are there any regulations on how many hours a truck driver can operate without a break, and will my Douglasville auto accident attorney investigate whether the driver broke those laws in connection with my accident?

A: Yes, the government does have regulations in place that limit the number of hours a commercial truck driver can operate without a break. If there was a commercial driver involved in your accident in Georgia, a Douglasville auto accident attorney has the ability to investigate whether the driver violated those laws.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) put commercial trucking hours-of-service regulations into place in an attempt to reduce the number of truck accident fatalities.

The regulations vary, depending on whether the truck is carrying passengers or property: 

• Passenger-Carrier Trucks - these drivers are not permitted to drive more than 10 consecutive hours, which must have been preceded by at least 8 consecutive off-duty hours.  
• Property-Carrier Trucks - property-carrier truck drivers may drive up to 11 hours without a break, but they need to have had 10 hours of off-duty hours prior to beginning their shift. 

There are other rules and regulations that a commercial truck driver must adhere to as well, including the number of hours per week they're allowed to drive and sleeper berth provisions.

If the driver failed to adhere to any of the rules in connection with your accident in Georgia, you and your Douglasville auto accident attorney may be able to show that the driver held a degree of fault, which could be a significant factor in your case.

You'll want to discuss these issues with your attorney immediately after your accident. In Georgia, you'll have to adhere to a statute of limitations, so it's important not to delay in proceeding with your case.

When It's Time to Contact a Douglasville Auto Accident Attorney

At Murphy & Associates our Douglasville car injury attorney team is ready to answer your questions about Georgia personal injury law. We make it a point to provide useful, free information, so you can make an educated decision before you choose to hire us.

If you have been injured and have questions about your accident in Georgia, start by visiting our article library for relevant and helpful information regarding injuries and cases. You can watch our videos for information from and about James Murphy, or request our FREE books on what to do after an accident or when buying insurance in Georgia. Contact us today - 1-770-577-3020.

Murphy & Associates handles truck accident cases. If you have been injured in a truck accident and have questions for a  Douglasville Car Accident Lawyer, you may be interested in the following helpful information and ways to contact us:

Order our free book, "Mistakes to Avoid if You Want to Win Your Car Wreck Case."

Review the our Case Results for truck accident cases.

Call us at 770-577-3020 for a free consulatation.

Contact Us, Lithia Springs Attorney, via the website, http://www.murphylawyer.com/.