Fatigued Truck Drivers

Representing Victims of Commercial Trucking Accidents

Truck driver fatigue is a leading cause of commercial trucking accidents. In fact, by some estimates, truck driver fatigue is the cause of more than 50 percent of commercial trucking accidents on America’s roadways. There are a number of laws and regulations in place to prevent or minimize the impact of truck driver fatigue, but, unfortunately, these laws do not completely eradicate instances of fatigued truck drivers, and accidents happen as a result.

At Cogan & Power, P.C., our unique legal team of Chicago trucking attorneys, which includes a nationally recognized member of the prestigious Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, is committed to obtaining just compensation for victims and their families of commercial trucking accidents. We take great pride in our record of successful verdicts and settlements, including a $13 million verdict in a trucking accident case, as well as the enduring relationships we have developed with our clients.

Schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated trucking accident attorneys and begin the process of recovering. We will not collect any fees from you unless we get you compensation.

Cogan & Power’s Focused and Dedicated Trucking Accident Attorneys

The Chicago trucking accident lawyers at Cogan & Power are uniquely poised to represent the victims of commercial trucking accidents and their families. Because we take a collaborative approach to legal representation, we are able to draw on our extensive and diverse experience to help our clients recover the compensation that they need and deserve. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience representing victims of personal injury accidents and have recovered more than $600 million for our clients, including several record verdicts and settlements.

Legal Obligations of Trucking Companies and Truck Drivers

Truckers, like all motorists, have an obligation to operate their trucks in a safe manner. Additionally, truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to industry-wide specific rules and regulations. For instance, property-carrying commercial truck drivers are required to observe the following regulations that seek to prevent truck driver fatigue:

• Not driving more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• Not driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.
• Not driving after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
• Sleeping at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two.

If the truck driver fails to comply with these obligations, or the trucking company impedes the driver’s ability to adhere to these requirements, they could be liable in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, contact the skilled Chicago trucking accident attorneys at Cogan & Power for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights following a commercial trucking accident. If you cannot come to our offices in downtown Chicago, we will come to you. And because we take cases on a contingency basis, you will not pay any fee unless we get you compensation.