Truck Driver Wage and Personal Injury Attorneys in Federal Way
Located on the west coast of Seattle lies Federal Way, home to a diverse economic base of businesses. From its roots as a logging settlement, the city has evolved into a thriving commercial hub for retail trade, healthcare and social assistance, and manufacturing industries. Because the U.S. Route 99 traverses Federal Way, the city provides a link between the economic centers of Seattle and Tacoma, fulfilling its motto “It’s all within reach.”
Federal Way continues to eye progress. And with programs such as the economic development strategy and city center redevelopment, the city is on an upward growth trajectory.
The trucking industry benefits from this growth, but it also plays a crucial part in Federal Way’s progress as it provides the wheels to keep the economy moving. This places importance on truck drivers’ health, welfare, and treatment since they are the backbone of this industry.
The reality for most truckers, however, isn’t pleasant – and sometimes it can be downright unjust. This is where our truck driver lawyers in Federal Way step in.
Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuit
Truck drivers work extra long hours to meet delivery schedules, especially now that the country is in the middle of a trucker shortage. Some companies may even force their drivers to work 24-hour shifts to ensure on-time deliveries. But the extended hours and unreasonable workload can be damaging for the drivers’ health.
On top of being overworked, truck drivers may not get the compensation they deserve. Employers pay their truckers on a per-hour, per-mile, per-load, or per-percentage-of load basis. However, these pay structures don’t always accurately reflect the number of time drivers spend working.
For example, it doesn’t take into account the hours truckers spend stuck in traffic, waiting for deliveries, or doing repairs. These are technically still part of their jobs, but they don’t get the corresponding pay.
Thankfully, the state of Washington has set clear legislations to prevent this practice.
The Hours of Service regulation states that truck drivers can work a 14-hour duty only if it follows after a 10-hour off duty. However, the time they spend on the road is limited to 11 hours, with the remaining three hours dedicated to nondriving duties, like pre- and post-trip inspections, meetings, trainings, or fleet huddles. Under the Hours of Service rule, truckers are also entitled to paid 10-minute breaks every four hours. Additionally, employers can’t force truck drivers to work longer than five consecutive hours without a meal period.
You are entitled to separate pay for overtime, rest and meal breaks, non-driving duties, and other forms of compensation if your employer follows the per-mile or per-piece pay structure.
If you feel that your employer is not complying with these regulations, we can help you.
Our Federal Way attorneys can help you build a solid wage and hour dispute. We provide aggressive representation for individual personal injury claims or class action lawsuits. Our lawyers will help you get the just compensation you need having been exposed to hazardous conditions at work.
Work-Related Personal Injury Claim
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cites trucking as one of the most dangerous industries. Semi-trailer and heavy truck drivers have the third-highest rate of non-fatal injury and illness out of all occupations.
Long work hours, insufficient pay, and tough working conditions contribute to the detriment of truckers’ health. When they hit the road while sleep-deprived or overfatigued, their risk of encountering accidents and sustaining injuries increase.
The most common injuries truckers sustain while on the job are cuts and lacerations, bruises, fractures, soreness and pain, multiple traumatic injuries, and strains and sprains. And truck drivers aren’t only exposed to danger while on the road; they’re still at risk even in loading docks. When they spend too much time waiting for cargo, it cuts their already limited time for deliveries. Some may try to make up for the lost time by overspeeding.
In the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) list of top 10 factors causing truck crashes, fatigue makes up for 18 percent of the incidents and traveling too fast accounts for 23 percent. These figures show that when truckers are tired or pressed for time, they become more prone to accidents. They may start driving recklessly, which is not good for their welfare and the other people sharing the road with them.
There is a need for strict enforcement of just working hours for truckers. Apart from the Hours of Service rule, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act protects truck drivers from safety violations. This gives trucker the following rights:
- Refuse to drive when suffering from fatigue or an illness
- Refuse to violate speed limits
- Refuse to violate Hours of Service
- Refuse to drive under inclement weather
- Refuse to drive a vehicle that is unsafe, defective, or exceeds highway weight restrictions
- Make an official complaint about such violations to the U.S. Department of Transportation
If you sustain an injury or get into an accident due to your employer’s refusal to adhere to these guidelines, you can file for a personal injury claim. Truck Driver Rights will help you strengthen your claim and represent you in court. We’ll guide you throughout the process and aggressively work toward fair compensation for your injuries.
Protecting the Rights of Federal Way Truck Drivers
Truck drivers are key players in the supply chain and the driving force behind every industry. As the prime movers of the country’s economy, employers are responsible for giving them fair treatment and compensation.
If you are a truck driver and you feel that your employer isn’t fairly treating you, you shouldn’t be afraid to demand what you deserve. We will stand with you in upholding your rights. Our team will represent you in matters related to violations of compensation rights, such as unpaid overtime, missed rest and meal breaks, and working off the clock.
We work on a “no win, no fee” basis, which means you don’t have to worry about losing money on an unsuccessful claim. But rest assured that you can expect our lawyers to give it their all in achieving the best possible outcome for you. Our experienced lawyers in Federal Way will stop at nothing to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Get in touch with us to discuss your case today.