When The Trucking Company Breaks Hours-Of-Service Rules: How That Strengthens Your Personal-Injury Claim
When someone is injured in a crash with a commercial truck, many people assume the case will only focus on what the truck driver did wrong moments before impact. But in many serious truck accident cases, liability is built long before the crash ever happens — inside the trucking company itself. One of the most serious and dangerous forms of negligence is violating the Hours of Service (HOS) rules, the federal safety regulations designed to prevent fatigue-related accidents.
If you were injured in a truck accident in Florida or Georgia, understanding how HOS violations work can help you protect your rights from day one.
What are HOS (Hours of Service) rules?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets limits on how long a commercial truck driver can be on duty, behind the wheel, and how often they must rest. Some key rules include:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit – A driver may only drive for 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 14-Hour Shift Limit – A driver cannot work more than 14 hours in a shift, even with breaks.
- 60/70-Hour Weekly Limit – A driver may not exceed 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.
- Mandatory Breaks – Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
These laws exist because fatigue is as dangerous as intoxication behind the wheel. A sleep truck driver operating an 80,000-pound vehicle is a recipe for disaster.
Why HOS violations matter to your personal injury case
When a trucking company or driver breaks HOS rules, it’s more than just a technical violation; it’s strong evidence of negligence. An HOS violation can show:
- Driver fatigue caused or contributed to the crash
- The trucking company encouraged or ignored unsafe scheduling
- Logs were falsified to keep the driver on the road longer
- The company failed to supervise or train its drivers properly
In Florida and Georgia, evidence of regulatory violations can significantly strengthen a negligence claim, opening the door to full compensation and, in some cases, punitive damages.
How your attorney uncovers HOS violations
A skilled truck accident attorney knows where to look and what to demand. Key evidence includes:
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data
- Driver logbooks and dispatch notes
- GPS records and telematics data
- Fuel receipts, toll records, and weigh-station documents
- The truck’s event data recorder (“black box”)
- Company safety policies and driver-monitoring practices
Trucking companies often attempt to hide or minimize HOS violations. But a thorough investigation can uncover inconsistencies and prove a pattern of unsafe behavior.
Talk to a Jacksonville, FL, Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Gillette Law represents the interests of Jacksonville residents who have been injured in a truck accident. Call our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.
