Truck Driver Wage and Personal Injury Lawyers in Long Beach, CA

Resting just 20 miles south of downtown LA, Long Beach remains one of the busiest cities on the coast.

It features waterfront attractions like the RMS Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. It hosts the Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Long Beach Pride Festival and Parade. And it rests above an oilfield which helps fuel the local economy. There’s no doubt that people in the city are constantly moving.

Just as busy as the people in town are the trucks that go through town. Long Beach is the second busiest container port in the country and one of the largest shipping ports in the world.

It’s no surprise that the city’s strategic location is keeping many truckers busy. The Port of Long Beach has actually remained operational even during the early days of COVID-19.

There are some changes in cargo operations at the Port of Long Beach, like how meetings with port staff remain virtual or over the phone, but it’s business as usual for everybody else.

For truckers that drive along the Long Beach Freeway to transport goods from the Port of Long Beach to distribution centers across town, this means the show must go on. If anything, truck drivers are busier than ever, transporting essential goods and other products that pass through the port.

A Look into Long Beach’s Commercial Trucking Community

The Long Beach commercial trucking community has long adjusted to the port’s round-the-clock operations. Nevertheless, truckers are still susceptible to various work-related concerns.

Many truck drivers have concerns regarding wages, while many others aren’t aware that they are being wronged by their employers. Truck drivers also aren’t new to work-related accidents due to fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, and improper cargo loading. Be aware of your truck driver’s rights so you can demand proper compensation if the situation calls for it.

Our truck driver attorneys in Long Beach help you familiarize yourself with your rights as a commercial trucker. We make sure your legal needs are met. Our results-driven services include compensation and benefits, personal injury, and wage and hour class action. Our legal team also helps you file complaints against employers who violate health and safety regulations.

Trust our client-centered team to stand with you and your rights.

Ask the Right Questions Before Doing Anything

Trucking is a high-pressure, high-stress job so road accidents, although preventable, happen a lot.

The most common causes of road accidents include driver fatigue, distracted driving, poor training, improper cargo loading, and lack of vehicle maintenance. You also increase the risk of accidents by speeding and overtaking in an attempt to get deliveries done on time.

Trucking-related accidents can lead to headaches, neck pain, whiplash, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. They may also lead to burns, cuts, bruises, lacerations, broken bones, and disfigurement. In the worst-case scenario, fatalities are also a possibility.

If you get involved in a work-related trucking accident, the first thing you have to focus on is getting proper medical treatment. Once your condition has stabilized and you feel like your employer or insurance holder didn’t provide sufficient compensation for your injuries, or if you think that your working conditions led to the accident, then start asking yourself the following questions.

Are you getting enough rest in between duty hours?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the number of hours that truckers can drive to prevent them from getting drowsy or exhausted on the job. This is an effort to minimize work-related injuries due to fatigue. The regulations include:

• Driving for only up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• Not driving beyond your 14th consecutive hour on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• Being allowed to drive only if there’s an 8-hour window since the end of the latest off-duty hours
• Going off duty or not driving after being on the road for 60/70 hours in 7/8 days on duty
• Restarting a 7-to-8-day period after at least 34 hours of consecutive hours off duty

If your driving conditions or operational procedures prevent you from getting enough rest in between duty hours, and if it results in a work-related injury, then it’s high time that you consult with a lawyer about it.

You deserve maximum compensation for the long hours you spend on the road and any work-related accidents or injuries that it might have caused.

Does your employer follow labor and compensation protocols?

Many employers have gotten used to a pay-per-mile or a pay-per-load compensation system. But there’s a flaw in these systems. They only account for the time you spend on the road. They don’t include the work hours you spend on non-driving tasks like vehicle inspections, safety training, and fleet huddles.

Fortunately, the old systems have been modified to provide compensation for non-driving work.

Modified federal and state laws aside, some trucking and shipment companies still compromise the health and safety of their drivers in an effort to cut down operational costs. Many of these labor cases go unresolved because drivers aren’t always aware of their rights or of their employer’s violations.

Take note that you have the right to refuse driving due to inclement weather or suspected engine issues. You may also refuse to drive if you haven’t received sufficient training. In addition to over-fatigue, these concerns might put your or other motorists at risk. If your employer still sends you out despite these concerns, then the liability rightfully falls on them. They are likely to pay hefty fines, too.

Truckers who still operate on a piece-rate basis also face various concerns. Here’s a quick rundown of common concerns and how they might affect your road safety:

• Regular Rest Breaks

You’re entitled to a 10-minute rest break for every four driving hours. Otherwise, it creates an unnecessarily stressful or tiring environment that takes away your focus on the road.

• Non-Driving Tasks

Even when you operate on a piece-rate basis, you should still get properly compensated for non-driving tasks. It also draws the lines that ensure you’re not overworking your mind and body.

• Tight Deadlines

The need to meet tight schedules and required miles might make you keep driving even when your mind and body tell you to rest. Your employer’s policies shouldn’t push your limits.

If you have questions about these scenarios, it’s best to contact a legal team immediately. Your lawyer will look into any violations of labor and employment law to make sure you get proper compensation.

What’s the next step?

In some employers’ attempts to cut costs while maintaining operational timeliness and efficiency, some truck drivers suffer. These instances typically result in wage and compensation concerns, work-related personal injuries, and health and safety violations by the employer.

Truck Driver Rights helps you recover lost wages, contest unfair compensation, and resolve other legal issues related to commercial truck driving. Schedule a free consultation with us today.