# Legal Herald: Trucking Accidents

> How a truck accident lawsuit works: federal hours of service limits, who can be liable, insurance minimums, black box and ELD evidence, and filing deadlines.

Website: https://trucking-accidents.legalherald.com/
Part of: [Legal Herald](https://legalherald.com/llms.txt)
Last Updated: 2026-11-06

## Guide
- [Truck Accident Lawsuits: Hours of Service, Evidence and Liability](https://trucking-accidents.legalherald.com/) (reviewed by Laurence Banville, Esq.)

## FAQ

### How many hours can a truck driver drive in a day?
Under federal rules for property-carrying drivers, a trucker may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and may not drive past the 14th hour after coming on duty. A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving, and weekly limits of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days also apply.

### Who can I sue after a truck accident?
Possible defendants include the driver, the motor carrier that employed or contracted with the driver, the owner of the truck or trailer, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance contractor and the manufacturer of a defective part. Which ones apply depends on the facts and on state law.

### How much insurance does a trucking company have to carry?
Federal rules require for-hire interstate carriers hauling general freight in vehicles over 10,000 pounds to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Minimums rise to $1 million or $5 million for many hazardous materials. Many carriers carry more than the minimum.

### What is a truck's black box and how do I get the data?
Most heavy trucks have an engine control module that can record speed, braking and other data around a crash, and most interstate carriers use electronic logging devices that record driving time. The carrier controls this data, so a lawyer usually sends a preservation letter right away and can obtain it through the lawsuit.

### How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit?
The deadline is set by the state where the crash happened and usually ranges from one to six years, with two or three years most common. Some evidence, such as carrier hours-of-service records, only has to be kept for six months, so waiting can hurt a claim long before the legal deadline.

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