If a drowsy truck driver caused your accident, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Truck driver fatigue is a factor in about 13% of large truck crashes, and settlements in New York for these cases typically range from $150,000 to over $5 million, depending on how serious the injuries are. Federal rules limit truck drivers to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour work window, but many trucking companies pressure drivers to keep going past those limits to meet tight delivery deadlines. When a fatigued driver causes a crash in New York, both the driver and the trucking company can be held responsible. Special digital records from the truck can show exactly how long the driver was on the road, which is often the key evidence in these cases.
Settlement
Jury Verdict
Settlement
Settlement
Proving that a truck driver was fatigued takes more than just saying they were tired. It requires pulling records from the truck's digital logging device, comparing those records to dispatch schedules, and showing that the trucking company either knew or should have known the driver was past legal limits.
Porter Law Group has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients since 2009, including a $5.7 million settlement in a commercial trucking case where driver logbook violations proved the carrier was at fault. The firm is led by Harvard-educated attorney Michael S. Porter, a former U.S. Army JAG Corps Captain with over 20 years of trial experience. The team includes specialists who focus specifically on extracting and analyzing electronic truck data. Seven of the firm's eight attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, an honor given to fewer than 5% of attorneys in New York.
"The trucking company always says the driver was within hours. The ELD data tells the real story. In every fatigue case we handle, we find one of two things: either the driver exceeded the legal limit and the carrier looked the other way, or the carrier's scheduling made it impossible to complete the route without violating the rules. Both scenarios are carrier negligence." Michael S. Porter, J.D., Porter Law Group
REQUEST A NO-OBLIGATION CASE REVIEW
Federal rules set strict limits on how long a commercial truck driver can be on the road before they must rest. These rules exist because research consistently shows that a lack of sleep seriously affects a person's ability to drive safely. A driver who has been awake for 18 hours has impairment levels similar to someone with a 0.05% blood alcohol level. After 24 hours without sleep, that rises to the equivalent of a 0.10% BAC, which is above the legal limit for any driver.
Here is a plain-language breakdown of the key rules:
| Rule | What It Means |
| 11-Hour Driving Limit | A driver can drive up to 11 hours after taking at least 10 consecutive hours off |
| 14-Hour On-Duty Window | Once a driver starts their shift, they cannot drive past the 14th hour, even if they took breaks |
| 30-Minute Break | After 8 cumulative hours of driving, the driver must take at least a 30-minute break |
| 10-Hour Off-Duty Period | Drivers must have 10 straight hours off before they can drive again |
| Weekly Hour Limit | Drivers cannot exceed 60 hours over 7 days, or 70 hours over 8 days |
| 34-Hour Restart | Drivers can reset their weekly hour count by taking at least 34 straight hours off |
Learn more about Hours of Service violations in truck accident cases.
Slower reaction time. A well-rested driver typically reacts to a hazard in about 1.5 seconds. A fatigued driver can take 3 seconds or more. At highway speeds, that difference means the truck travels hundreds of extra feet before braking even starts, which is enough to turn a close call into a serious crash.
Microsleeps. A fatigued driver can fall asleep for just a few seconds without even realizing it. During those few seconds, a truck traveling at highway speed covers roughly 400 feet with no one in control. This leads to lane drifting, head-on collisions, and rollovers.
Poor judgment. Fatigue makes it harder to judge distances and make quick decisions. A tired driver may misjudge a gap when passing, enter a curve too fast, or fail to notice a red light in time.
The truck driver can be held liable for choosing to drive while exhausted. If a driver noticed signs of drowsiness, like heavy eyelids, lane drifting, or difficulty focusing, and kept driving anyway, they failed to take reasonable care for others on the road. Violations of federal driving hour rules also strengthen the case against the driver directly.
The trucking company is often where the real responsibility lies. Companies are required to monitor their drivers' digital logs, build schedules that allow legal rest periods, and take action when drivers show a pattern of violations. When a carrier creates a delivery schedule that simply cannot be completed without breaking the rules, or ignores warning signs in their own data, they are independently at fault. Learn more about truck accidents and carrier liability.
Dispatcher pressure is another form of carrier liability. If messages or call records show that a dispatcher pushed a driver to keep going despite being near or over the limit, the company faces additional exposure in court.
Because fatigued drivers often fail to brake at all, these crashes tend to happen at full speed and cause some of the most serious injuries seen on the road. Victims may be entitled to compensation for:
Economic losses include all medical costs, from emergency care through long-term rehabilitation, lost income during recovery, reduced future earning ability, and vehicle damage.
Non-economic losses include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of daily life, and in serious cases, disfigurement. New York places no limit on these damages.
Wrongful death claims, when a loved one did not survive, typically settle between $1 million and $10 million under New York law.
Punitive damages may also be available when a trucking company knowingly pressured a driver to break the rules. These are meant to punish reckless behavior, not just compensate victims, and they are uncapped in New York.
FIND OUT WHAT YOUR FATIGUE-RELATED TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE IS WORTH
Porter Law Group has published results including 53 cases at or above $1 million, with a top settlement of $17.8 million and a jury verdict of $13.5 million.
$5,700,000 Settlement: A 52-year-old man suffered a leg amputation in a commercial trucking accident. The firm proved liability through driver logbook violations and recovered compensation covering lifetime prosthetic costs and lost income.
$3,400,000 Jury Verdict: A 40-year-old man sustained a traumatic brain injury in a vehicle collision. The insurer initially offered $100,000. Porter Law Group secured $3.4 million at trial.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Time matters in these cases, and not just because of legal deadlines.
The digital records in the truck that prove how long the driver was on the road can be overwritten in as little as 30 days. Dispatch logs and driver-carrier messages can disappear in routine data cleanups. Acting quickly is the only way to make sure that evidence is preserved.
For legal deadlines:
Wrongful death claims: 2 years from the date of death; claims for minors are paused until age 18ferent. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Standard truck accident claims: 3 years from the date of the crash
Claims involving a government entity (such as a road construction zone): a notice must be filed within 90 days.
Hurt In A Truck Accident?
Talk to our truck accident lawyers and find out what your case is worth in a free, no-obligation consultation.
1. Call 911 and note the driver's condition. If the driver seems confused, disoriented, or says anything like "I didn't see you" or "I must have dozed off," write down the exact words and the time. Tell the responding officer what you observed.
2. Document the crash scene. Take photos of the truck's company name, license plate, DOT number, damage to both vehicles, road conditions, and any skid or drift marks on the road.
3. Seek medical care within 24 hours. High-speed crashes can cause serious internal injuries and brain trauma that may not feel severe right away.
4. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company. The carrier's insurance team will try to minimize their driver's responsibility. Refer all communication to your attorney.
5. Contact a truck accident lawyer right away. An attorney can send a legal demand within 24 hours requiring the trucking company to preserve all digital records, logs, and communications. This is often the single most important step you can take.
Porter Law Group offers free consultations on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless the firm wins your case.
GET A FREE CASE REVIEW: CALL (833) PORTER-9
Porter Law Group represents fatigue-related truck accident victims throughout New York State. Headquartered in Syracuse with a statewide practice, the firm handles claims in every county and major city across New York.
| Location | Coverage Area |
| Syracuse, NY | Central New York and surrounding counties |
| New York City, NY | All five boroughs and surrounding metro area |
| Buffalo, NY | Western New York and Niagara region |
| Rochester, NY | Finger Lakes region and Monroe County |
| Albany, NY | Capital Region and Hudson Valley |
No matter where in New York your accident happened, Porter Law Group can help. Call (833) PORTER-9 to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney.
Settlements typically range from $150,000 for moderate injuries to over $5 million for life-altering cases. Wrongful death claims regularly exceed $2 million. These cases can also result in additional punitive damages when a trucking company knowingly pushed a driver past legal limits.
The main evidence is the truck's Electronic Logging Device (ELD), which digitally records every hour the driver was on the road and when they rested. Dispatch messages, call logs, and scheduling records can show whether the company pressured the driver to keep going. The truck's own event recorder can also show whether the driver braked before impact, which is relevant to determining whether they were alert or drowsy.
Yes. Trucking companies are responsible for their drivers' actions on the job and for enforcing federal rest rules on their own. When a company builds delivery schedules that cannot be completed legally, ignores warning signs in driver logs, or pressures drivers to skip rest, the company bears direct responsibility. See our truck accident practice area for more on how we build these cases.
The most common are rear-end crashes (the driver fails to slow down at all), head-on collisions (the truck drifts across the center line during a microsleep), rollovers (the truck leaves the road), and sideswipe crashes. Because the driver often does not brake, these crashes tend to happen at full speed and cause severe injuries.
Porter Law Group works on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe nothing at all unless the firm recovers compensation for you. All costs for investigation, data analysis, and legal work are covered by the firm.
Founder and managing partner of Porter Law Group. Harvard University (B.A., 1994), Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 1997). Former U.S. Army JAG Corps Captain, Airborne Training School graduate. Super Lawyers 14 consecutive years, 10.0 Superb on Avvo, Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Over 20 years of trial experience and $500 million in recoveries.
Reviewed by Michael S. Porter, J.D. | Last updated: [April, 2026]
Truck driver fatigue causes devastating accidents, and the evidence that proves it can disappear in as little as 30 days. Contact Porter Law Group at (833) PORTER-9 for a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Phone: +1 833-767-8379
Email: info@porterlawteam.com
Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM | Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Avoid sharing confidential information via contact form, text, or voicemail as they are not secure. Please be aware that using any of these communication methods does not establish an attorney-client relationship. *By appointment only.
The information contained on this site is proprietary and protected. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying, or dissemination will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not, nor should it be taken as medical or legal advice. None of the content on this site is intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Attorney Advertising.
We serve clients in every city and county in New York State. These include places like: The Adirondacks, Albany, Alexandria Bay, Amsterdam, Astoria, Auburn, Ballston Spa, Batavia, Beacon, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Canandaigua, Carthage, Cattaraugus, Catskill, Cayuga Lake, Cazenovia, Chelsea, Clayton, Clifton Park, Cobleskill, Colonie, Cooperstown, Corning, Cortland, Delhi, Delmar, Dunkirk, East Aurora, East Hampton, Elmira, Fayetteville, Finger Lakes, Flushing, Fredonia, Fulton, Garden City, Geneva, Glen Cove, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Gouverneur, Great Neck, Greenwich Village, Hamilton, Hammondsport, Harlem, Haverstraw, Hempstead, Herkimer, Hornell, Hudson, Huntington, Ilion, Ithaca, Jamaica, Jamestown, Johnstown, Kingston, Lake George, Lake Placid, Lewiston, Little Falls, Liverpool, Lockport, Long Island City, Lowville, Malone, Manhattan, Manlius, Massena, Medina, Middletown, Monticello, Montauk, Mount Vernon, New Paltz, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Norwich, Nyack, Ogdensburg, Old Forge, Olean, Oneida, Oneonta, Ossining, Oswego, Penn Yan, Peekskill, Plattsburgh, Port Chester, Potsdam, Poughkeepsie, Queens, Rhinebeck, Riverhead, Rochester, Rome, Rye, Sag Harbor, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Seneca Falls, Seneca Lake, Skaneateles, SoHo, Southampton, Spring Valley, Staten Island, Stony Brook, Suffern, Syracuse, Tarrytown, The Bronx, Thousand Islands, Ticonderoga, Troy, Tupper Lake, Utica, Warsaw, Waterloo, Watertown, Watkins Glen, Wellsville, White Plains, Williamsburg, Woodstock, Yonkers, and many more communities throughout New York State.
Copyright © 2026, Porter Law Group. Personal Injury Lawyers
Made with 💛 by Gold Penguin
