Any time a semi truck blows through a stop sign, like in this recent fatal crash in southern Minnesota, one of my first suspicions is whether the driver was fatigued or potentially over their hours of service. That accident left a 41-year old Owatonna man dead when a semi truck broadsided his pickup truck after it ran a stop sign on Hwy 83.
Unfortunately, accidents like this are commonly caused by truck drivers under pressure by their corporate motor-carrier to make unrealistic delivery and pickup deadlines for the sake of profit. This typically "unwritten" rule has lead to a trucking industry fraught with truck drivers who, in order to keep their job or be able to afford to turn any profit, have to drive beyond their legal hours of service or who otherwise are forced to drive while they are fatigued. Operating a loaded 22 ton tractor/trailer combination takes a lot of energy and focus even when well rested.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has in place strict regulations limiting the number of hours of driving a commercial motor-vehicle driver can put in. These rules are not window dressing. They are very important to keeping the public safe and to allowing truck drivers adequate rest time to prevent fatigue. Unfortunately, too many corporate motor-carriers choose to ignore these federal regulations and endanger the safety of everyone on the roadway (including their own drivers). Such behavior by these corporations putting financial profits ahead of the lives and safety of the motoring public can only be corrected by holding them responsible when these tragic accidents occur.
Jake Jagdfeld is a partner at Johnson Becker, PLLC who exclusively represents personal injury clients in their claims. Johnson Becker, PLLC emphasizes in representing the victims of commercial truck, semi-truck, and other large truck crash cases, including wrongful death, serious orthopedic injuries, paralysis, burn injuries, brain injury and brain damage, disfigurement, neurological injuries, and many other life-altering injuries. We have represented plaintiffs around the United States. We are based in St. Paul, Minnesota and serve clients throughout the United States. If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance you can reach Jake at 612-436-1810 or jjagdfeld@johnsonbecker.com.
