St. Louis Night Time Truck Accident Lawyers

What Can Cause St. Louis Night Time Truck Accidents?

Low visibility contributes to many night time truck accidents, but other commons reasons include:

• Alcohol Impairment

It is federal law that no one can operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. Because large trucks pose a much higher risk to those on the St. Louis and Missouri roads, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and its Code of Federal Regulations §392.82 places even higher restrictions on truck drivers:

• No truck driver may drive with a blood alcohol content of .04 percent or higher
• Having a blood alcohol content over .02 may make a truck driver subject to disciplinary action, and they will not be allowed to drive for 24 hours

If a truck driver made the terrible decision to drive drunk or impaired by drugs and caused you injuries, Burger Law's Missouri truck accident injury lawyers in St. Louis will hold them accountable. When we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, we seek punitive damages so they know never to get behind the wheel intoxicated again.

• Drug Impairment

The Code of Federal Regulations §392.82 also requires commercial truck drivers to be tested for the following controlled substances:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates, including opium itself and derivative drugs such as heroin
• Amphetamines and methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine (a.k.a. PCP)

Unfortunately, drug use among truck drivers is high and often linked to poor working conditions. Many drivers traveling through St. Louis and Missouri use amphetamines and cocaine in order to stay awake when driving long hours.

• Faulty Truck or Equipment

The Code of Federal Regulations §396 stipulates that every "motor carrier, its officers, drivers, agents, representatives and employees" consistently inspect, repair and maintain their trucks, as well as keep detailed records.

They must inspect:

• Time and frame assemblies
• Suspension systems
• Axles
• Wheels and rims
• Steering systems
• Brakes

If you were hit by a truck driver in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri or Illinois, it is imperative you contact the night time truck accident lawyers at Burger Law right away. As part of our truck accident investigation, we will acquire any and all reports. If we find the driver or truck company was negligent, you can be sure our truck accident injury lawyers will hold them accountable.

• Fatigued Driving

Along with drunk driving and distracted driving, fatigued driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. Being awake for 18 consecutive hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. While Arkansas and New Jersey are the only states to have laws against drowsy driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has enacted strict hours-of-service regulations to ensure that truck drivers get enough rest when they have to drive long hours:

Property-Carrying Drivers

• A max of 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive off-duty hours
• A max of 14 hours on-duty, meaning that the trucker may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty after 10 consecutive off-duty hours
• No more than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• No more than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Any driver using a sleeper berth must take eight consecutive hours in it, plus a separate two hours in the sleeper berth or off duty, or any combination of the two.

Passenger-Carrying Drivers

• A max of 10 hours driving after eight consecutive hours off duty
• A max of 15 hours on-duty, meaning that the commercial driver may not drive beyond the 15th consecutive hour after eight consecutive off-duty hours
• No more than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• No more than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Drivers who use a sleeper berth must take at least eight hours in it with the option of splitting the time into two periods, provided that neither is less than two hours

Truck drivers should pull over when they are feeling drowsy or fatigued. According to the groundbreaking Large Truck Crash Causation Study, pressure from employers to meet tight schedules was a leading reason that truck drivers drove fatigued. If you or a loved one in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri or Illinois was injured because a trucking company obligated their drivers to drive longer than they should, Burger Law's St. Louis night time truck accident lawyers will prove that they were liable and make sure you receive maximum compensation.

Strict adherence to any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulation is necessary to keep our St. Louis and Missouri roads safe. If anyone who owns, manages or drives a truck is negligent in satisfying any state or federal regulations and injures you or your loved one, they need to pay and you need to be compensated for your damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in a night time truck accident it’s important to allow the lawyers at Burger Law to investigate your case, build a strong claim and successfully fight for full compensation. Call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.