Commercial truck traffic is common, particularly on roads and highways surrounding large transportation and industrial hubs. While most long-haul truckers drive responsibly in accordance with the duty of care placed on them by law, many also drive long routes and work long hours, which can lead to them feeling dangerously tired while driving.
Fatigued truck drivers in Houston accidents can be held personally accountable for their own negligence, but they are rarely the only party that holds civil liability for such collisions. If you want to recover fully and fairly for every loss you’ve suffered from such an incident, you should strongly consider contacting and retaining a truck injury attorney with years of experience successfully handling similar cases.
Federal Driving Time Limits for Commercial Truck Drivers
Among many other regulations designed to keep both long-haul truckers and passenger car drivers safe on public roads, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes limits on how much time truck drivers can spend performing certain tasks within certain time periods. As of 2025, the FMCSA’s “hours of service” regulations include the following restrictions:
- No more than 11 total hours of driving within a single shift, reset by spending at least 10 hours off-duty
- No more than 14 total hours on duty within a single shift, reset by spending at least 10 hours off-duty
- No more than eight consecutive hours of driving without at least one break of 30 consecutive minutes
- No more than 60 total hours on duty within a single seven-day period, reset by spending at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty
- No more than 70 total hours on duty within a single eight-day period, reset by spending at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty
Any Houston truck driver who violates these rules also violates their duty to drive lawfully and responsibly, which makes them legally at fault for any accident caused by their overtiredness.
For a free legal consultation with a fatigued driver accident lawyer serving Houston, call (832) 449-8230
How Employer Misconduct Can Lead to Fatigued Driving
Unfortunately, it’s common for trucking companies to knowingly and intentionally pressure their drivers to violate FMCSA regulations in an attempt to save time and money on routes. Fortunately, if you can prove that a truck driver was forced to drive longer than they were legally allowed to and then caused an accident, you may be able to hold their employer directly liable for the collision.
Furthermore, even if a commercial driver is entirely at fault for being sleep-deprived and causing a Houston traffic collision as a result, their employer may still be vicariously liable for their negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior. A knowledgeable legal professional can offer crucial guidance about who may be at fault for your accident and , therefore, named as a defendant in your lawsuit or settlement demand.
Houston Fatigued Driver Accident Lawyer Near Me (832) 449-8230
Discuss Legal Options With a Houston Attorney After an Accident Involving a Tired Truck Driver
Being extremely tired can impair your judgment, coordination, and reaction time just as much as alcohol or drugs can, so it’s no surprise that fatigued truck drivers in Houston accidents often end up causing life-altering injuries to other involved parties.
Fortunately, you may have stronger grounds than you think to recover comprehensive compensation from more than one defendant as a result of such an incident. Call today to learn more about your options from one of our skilled truck accident lawyers.
Call or text (832) 449-8230 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form