Your Indianapolis semi-truck accident lawyer should know about the "comic book"

Semi-truck driver fatigue is a problem, a very big and dangerous problem. No one will argue that truckers don't have a tough job: long hours, sleep deprivation, fatigue, pressure to deliver loads on time or early, delivering more loads than ever before, etc.  However, the bi-product of these demands often leads to serious injury or death.  Research has shown that every hour a trucker spends behind the wheel, the higher the chances that they will cause a serious semi-truck accident.

Indianapolis serves as a hub and passageway for thousands of semis using I-465, I-74 and I-65 as a transportation route to cities like Chicago and St. Louis.  And while Indiana may be considered the Crossroads of America, we're also a breeding ground for accidents involving semi-trucks.  It's a fact that Indianapolis semi-truck accident lawyers can easily verify.

"Since fatigue is a common factor in Indianapolis semi-truck accidents, is anything being done to stop tired truckers from driving?"

Yes. In January 2004, the Hours-of-Service Regulations took effect, stating that interstate commercial truck drivers won't be allowed to drive more than 11 hours or drive after 14 hours on duty until they have had a 10-hour break. Further, semi-drivers cannot drive after accruing 60 work hours during a 7-day period or 70 work hours during an 8-day period, but a "restart" provision will allow truckers to drive 77 hours in 7 days or 88 hours in 8 days.

The problem: studies show that these regulations are commonly violated.  Regulations currently allow truckers to record their hours in a written logbook, which semi-truck drivers refer to as "comic books" because of how easily and commonly they are falsified.

The "comic book" is only one piece of evidence that needs to be examined by an Indianapolis semi-truck accident lawyer.   There are several factors that exist in a semi-truck case that don't present themselves in ordinary car accidents.  Remember, there is nothing ordinary about an accident with a semi-truck. the problem is so bad that truckers refer to the log book which they record their hours into as the "comic book."