Topeka Truck Accident Attorneys Near You
Bretz Injury Law understands the devastating impact a serious truck accident can have on every aspect of your life. Commercial trucks can cause catastrophic damage even at relatively low speeds, and when one strikes a smaller passenger vehicle the consequences can be life-changing.
Matthew Bretz and his team are here to support you as you pursue accountability against the responsible party.
Bretz Injury Law handles truck accident cases involving all types of commercial vehicles, including:
- Semi-trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Sanitation trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Courier trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Cement mixer trucks
- Dump trucks
Contact Bretz Injury Law right away to make an appointment with a Topeka truck accident attorney who genuinely cares about what happens to you.
Why You Need a Truck Accident Attorney in Kansas
Pursuing fair compensation after a truck accident is significantly harder without an experienced attorney in your corner. Trucking companies are typically backed by well-funded legal teams whose sole focus is protecting the company’s interests and minimizing what they pay out to injured victims.
Matthew Bretz has over 30 years of experience handling serious injury claims, including complex truck accident cases, and knows exactly what to expect at every stage of the process. Contact Bretz Injury Law today to find out how we can help you move forward.
Our Nearby Topeka Personal Injury Law Firm
Bretz Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyer Topeka
515 S Kansas Ave C
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 264-4424
What You Should Know About Truck Driver Hours of Service Regulations
Federal law regulates how many hours truck drivers can spend behind the wheel and when they are required to rest. The purpose of these rules is to prevent driver fatigue and keep everyone on the road safe. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers are limited to 14-hour workdays.
Those 14 hours include driving time, meals, and rest breaks. Once the 14-hour window closes, the driver must rest for at least 10 consecutive hours before starting their next shift. Within that 14-hour period, a driver is only permitted to spend a maximum of 11 hours actually driving. Drivers are also required to take a 30-minute rest break within their driving time.
What Is the 60/70 Rule for Truck Drivers?
The 60/70 rule governs how many hours a truck driver may work over a stretch of consecutive days. For companies that operate seven days a week, a driver is limited to 70 hours of work within any eight-day period.
For companies that close at least one day a week, the limit drops to 60 hours within a seven-day period. Once a driver reaches their weekly maximum, they are required to take at least 34 consecutive hours off before returning to work.
How Liability Is Determined in a Truck Accident
Unlike car accidents where the at-fault party is usually a single, easily identified driver, determining liability after a truck accident often requires a thorough investigation. The process can be complex, but Matthew Bretz has the knowledge and experience to dig into the details of a truck accident claim and identify every party that can be held accountable for your injuries.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Truck Accident?
The most obvious potentially liable party is the truck driver. But other parties who were nowhere near the scene of the crash can also bear responsibility, including the trucking company and the truck manufacturer.
Trucking companies are frequently held liable, often because they pushed drivers to violate federal regulations in order to save time and money. A truck driver can be held personally responsible when the accident was directly caused by their own negligence, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If the crash is found to have resulted from a manufacturing defect in the truck itself, the manufacturer may also be held liable.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Kansas?
Large commercial trucks present a serious hazard on the road because of their sheer size and weight. Drivers are often pushed to log long hours or cut corners on regulations in the interest of meeting tight deadlines. When a driver is improperly trained or other risk factors come into play, the result can be a devastating crash.
Other common causes of truck accidents include:
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Overloaded cargo
- Fatigued driving
- Drugged or drunk driving
- Excessive speed
- Improper driver qualifications
- Violations of traffic laws
Contact Bretz Injury Law About Your Topeka Truck Accident Today
Regardless of the exact circumstances, if you were hurt in a truck accident and believe the driver or trucking company was at fault, you have the right to pursue accountability. Matthew Bretz brings over 30 years of serious injury litigation experience to every truck accident case he handles and is ready to help you move forward.
Bretz Injury Law is committed to pursuing justice and fair compensation for seriously injured clients. The trucking company responsible for your accident should not be allowed to continue unsafe or unlawful practices without consequences.
Contact Bretz Injury Law today to learn more or schedule your free consultation with a Topeka truck accident attorney.