Truck driver fatigue accidents in WA are incredibly dangerous and can come with real-life ramifications for Washington residents. Hours-of-service violations significantly contribute to truck crashes, often resulting in extensive injuries and property damage.
If you have been the victim of a truck driver fatigue accident in WA, you need to hire a truck accident lawyer to represent you. At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, our team of truck accident attorneys has extensive experience handling truck accident cases and can help you prove driver fatigue in a truck accident.
Keep reading to find out what the FMCSA regulations are in Washington and how a tired truck driver crash lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Federal Hours-of-Service Rules For Truck Drivers
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, there are certain hours-of-service rules that truck drivers must follow. It is up to the trucking companies to enforce these rules and ensure their drivers are maintaining safe work standards.
As of 2025, truck drivers can work for up to 14 hours in a day, with only 11 of those hours being allotted for driving. The purpose of this 14 hour rule is to ensure truck drivers are not pushing past the point of safety.
In addition to this rule, truck drivers must also take a break of at least 30 minutes after every eight hours of consecutive driving. There is also a 70 hour rule, which states that drivers cannot exceed 70 hours of work in total within an eight day period. The driver must also have 34 hours off-duty for the 70-hour clock to reset.
The Dangers of Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck driver fatigue is incredibly dangerous as it is one of the most common contributors to truck accidents. Any type of truck accident is serious, as commercial trucks are very large and pose a serious risk to other drivers on the road.
The most significant risk of driver fatigue is the risk of the driver causing an accident by colliding with other vehicles on the road. These types of accidents often result in significant damage, such as bodily injuries, property damage, and even the possibility of fatalities.
Signs of Truck Driver Fatigue
Even though hours-of-service rules are there to protect drivers, truck drivers don’t always follow them. Because of this, there are certain signs that you want to watch out for that could indicate truck driver fatigue. Being able to recognize these signs could potentially help you get out of a dangerous situation before a crash occurs.
Here are some signs to watch out for when you are sharing the road with commercial truck drivers:
- Swerving or drifting into other lanes.
- Speeding or driving erratically
- Road rage.
Braking unexpectedly. - Failing to signal properly.
If you notice any of these warning signs, you should try to navigate away from the truck as quickly as possible. You may be able to move into another lane that is farther away, or you may need to pull over until they are out of sight.
If the truck driver is driving very erratically, it is best to report this to the police.
Proving Hours-of-Service Violations in Your Claim
Truck driver fatigue accidents in WA are treated very seriously and often result in a positive outcome for the victims. However, you still need to prove that there was an hour-of-service violation and that it directly contributed to the accident.
Here are some examples of how you can prove this in your claim:
- Driver’s logs: The truck driver’s logs should provide evidence regarding how long the driver was driving and whether or not they violated hours of service rules. These driver’s logs should also clearly document off-duty time and breaks.
- Truck data: Blackbox data, route information, and GPS data can all be used to determine if any violations contributed to the accident.
- Witness testimony: If there are any witnesses who saw the accident, they may also be able to provide witness statements. They may be able to attest to how the accident occurred and whether or not the driver was presenting signs of driver fatigue before the accident.
- Police report: Whenever law enforcement is at the scene of a collision, they will create a police report detailing the situation. This police report will often include information regarding any signs of driver fatigue that the police officers noticed.
A Vancouver, WA, truck accident lawyer can help you track down all of this evidence to support your claim to get the best possible settlement.
Hire an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney at Henderson Taylor Law Firm
Getting into a semi-truck fatigue-related accident can have a significant impact on your life, especially if you sustain physical injuries. Because of this, it is absolutely essential that you pursue compensation with the help of a Vancouver, WA, truck accident lawyer.
At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, our experienced commercial truck accident attorneys are committed to defending the downtrodden and providing legal representation for victims of truck accidents. For expert representation from one of our attorneys, contact us today at 360-737-1478 or fill out our online form.
FAQ:
What are Hours-of-Service rules?
The federal hours-of-service rules stipulate that drivers cannot work any longer than 14 hours in a day, with 11 of those hours being driving. Truck drivers must also take at least a 30 minute break every eight hours and cannot work longer than 70 hours over the course of eight days.
How can fatigue be proven in a truck accident case?
Truck driver fatigue can often be proved through things like blackbox data, GPS data, route information, and driver’s logs. The police report and witness testimony can also help prove fatigue by adding details about how the accident occurred and how the truck driver was behaving beforehand.
Is the trucking company liable if the driver was too tired?
This is very dependent on the situation, as liability can fall on the individual driver, the trucking company, or both. It usually depends on whether or not the truck driver was acting independently or if they were pressured to drive longer than they should.