The Danger of Truck Driver Fatigue
Were You Injured Because of a Truck Driver’s Negligence?
No matter what vehicle you are operating, driving while drowsy can dramatically increase the risk of an accident. One of the leading causes of 18-wheeler or commercial truck accidents is driver fatigue. This is due to the rigorous schedule to deliver goods that truckers face. This pressure requires truck drivers to work long hours. Many of those hours are usually performed at night. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigue and drowsiness play a role in 56,000 accidents each year. They are resulting in over 40,000 injuries and 1,500 fatalities. Driver fatigue presents a significant danger to other motorists on the road.
Dangers of Driving Fatigued
Feeling sleepy or having trouble keeping your eyes open is only one form of driver fatigue. In general, any state of exhaustion is driver negligence. Additionally, fatigue can affect you by slowing down your reaction times. Also, it impairs your judgment and decreases awareness. Adelaide Centre for Sleep Research did a study on drivers. They found that drivers who have been awake for 24+ straight hours display driving capabilities equivalent to a person with a 0.1 blood alcohol content. Furthermore, this means a severely fatigued driver presents the same threat as one who is legally drunk.
Are there driving regulations to help prevent fatigue?
Yes. Trucking companies have the legal responsibility to protect the safety of their drivers and others traveling over the roadways. There are numerous laws and rules in place regulating truck drivers. The Hours of Service Rules are a set of regulations enacted to help prevent driver fatigue. These are crucial in reducing the risks of truck accidents.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces several rules. These rules prevent commercial drivers from operating vehicles without proper time off duty.
Hours of Service Rules for Freight Trucks
Contact A Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents caused by driver fatigue is an accident caused by negligence. Suppose you have been a victim of a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver. In that case, you have the right to file a personal injury claim holding the truck company and its driver liable for the emotional, physical, and financial damages you have suffered. You may have the right to file a wrongful death suit if you have lost a loved one due to a truck driver’s fatigue accident.
If you have been injured as the result of a truck accident, contact Walker Texas Lawyer today by calling 800-732-2934.
Dangers of Driving Fatigued
Feeling sleepy or having trouble keeping your eyes open is only one form of driver fatigue. In general, any state of exhaustion is driver negligence. Additionally, fatigue can affect you by slowing down your reaction times. Also, it impairs your judgment and decreases awareness. Adelaide Centre for Sleep Research did a study on drivers. They found that drivers who have been awake for 24+ straight hours display driving capabilities that are the equivalent of a person with a 0.1 blood alcohol content. Furthermore, this means a severely fatigued driver presents the same threat as a legally drunk driver.
Are there driving regulations to help prevent fatigue?
Yes. Trucking companies have the legal responsibility to protect not only their drivers’ safety but also others traveling over the roadways. There are numerous laws and rules in place regulating truck drivers. A set of regulations enacted to help prevent driver fatigue are the Hours of Service Rules. These are crucial in reducing the risks of truck accidents.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces several rules. These rules prevent commercial drivers from operating vehicles without proper time off duty.
