Can Las Cruces Truck Drivers Help Decrease Accidents by Reporting Safety Violations?
At the Law Office of Samuel I. Kane, P.A., our New Mexico truck accident attorneys know how hard truck drivers work to support themselves and their families, especially during the extended hours many had to endure transporting emergency goods during the onset of the coronavirus.
Nearly one year later, and things are far from back to “normal” as the virus has changed the way people shop for everything from major purchases and household goods to clothing and even groceries. The online shopping habits many have adopted across the country have put a substantial strain on our trucking industry.
And, unfortunately, the result has trucking companies prioritizing profits over public safety, as they want to keep more drivers on the roads longer to meet delivery demands, which boosts their bottom lines.
Our truck accident lawyers in New Mexico know that the Hours of Service Regulations in place are designed to allow truck drivers enough rest in between trips to keep them fresh behind the wheel. Yet, some trucking companies are violating the laws just to increase their revenue.
Thankfully, truck drivers are fighting back.
Whistleblowers are Filing Complaints Against Trucking Companies Across the U.S.
One way truck drivers across the country are helping to decrease conditions that can cause dangerous collisions on our roadways is by reporting their trucking companies for pressuring drivers to falsify driver logs — so they can stay on the road longer.
The U.S. Department of Transportation requires commercial truck drivers to maintain driver logs to verify the number of hours worked.
Some drivers are claiming their employers are skirting the federally allowed working hours by altering the logbooks to disguise the safety violations.
At the Law Office of Samuel I. Kane, P.A., our skilled truck accident attorneys in New Mexico know that driver fatigue and drowsiness are some of the most common causes of 18-wheeler collisions across the country. And when the trucking company is the one allegedly asking these drivers to violate the rules that will provide the rest they need, that is the exact type of negligence that can lead to severe collisions.
How Can the Department of Transportation Stop This Dangerous Behavior?
While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict regulations for how long truck drivers can be behind the wheel, as long as their logbooks are manually completed, there is no way to know whether they have been falsified.
The FMSCA is currently exploring solutions that would soon implement a new rule requiring the use of electronic logging devices in commercial trucks to reduce hours-of-service violations.
Until these new measures are put in place, drivers can report safety violations through the National Consumer Complaint Database, an FMCSA website.
Contact Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys in Las Cruces for Help Today
If you have been hurt in a truck accident in New Mexico, contact our truck accident lawyers New Mexico by calling (575) 222-0472 to schedule a free consultation today to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue the negligent party for your financial recovery.
