As Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States have dealt with the coronavirus pandemic, there have been drastic changes to federal trucking regulations that have gone largely unnoticed by the public. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we want to discuss the suspension of hours of service (HOS) regulations by the President. While these changes were made to help ensure that the population had goods on their store shelves, suspending driver requirements could result in deadly crashes.
What regulations changed?
As the full scope of the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to become known, the President suspended hours of service regulations for truck drivers. These laws were designed in an effort to keep drivers and others on the roadway safe. Truck drivers spend an incredible amount of time on the road, but they can become fatigued.
Generally, drivers are required to get at least eight hours of rest after driving for 10 hours so they can be ready for the next driving day. The order by the President to suspend the HOS was made in an effort to ensure that critical goods and services could be delivered. This includes emergency medical supplies, food, medicine, and more.
These orders are supposed to be temporary. When the President lifts the emergency order in place, the hours of service regulations will be back in force. However, many truck drivers and truck company operators are beginning to argue for looser restrictions altogether. They are pointing out that, because there have been no major incidents so far, that drivers and companies should have more control over how many hours they drive in a day.
At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we know that truck driver fatigue is a leading cause of commercial truck accidents in this country. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Due to the size and weight of these vehicles, passengers and drivers inside traditional vehicles can sustain severe injuries in the event an accident occurs.
It is not uncommon for our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers to help clients who have sustained the following:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Severe lacerations
- and more
We will be keeping a close eye on how the suspended hours of service requirements affect drivers, and we will certainly watch to see if any permanent changes are made to federal regulations.
Let us get to work on your behalf
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a crash caused by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our team is dedicated to helping victims of these incidents secure the compensation they deserve. This can include coverage for all medical expenses related to the crash, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering damages, and more. When you need a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-988-9467.