Car accidents happen every day in this country, and are caused by a number of different factors. For this reason, it is legally mandated for drivers to operate their vehicles safely in order to protect drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Driving while fatigued increases the risk of being involved in a car accident. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reports that approximately 6,400 people in America are killed in driver fatigue crashes every year. The risk of death is significantly higher when a commercial vehicle is involved in a crash. This is due to the considerably larger size of most commercial vehicles, which results in significant property damage, serious injuries, and even death.
Danger of Truck Driver Fatigue
When a person gets behind the wheel when they are tired, they place everyone else on the road at risk of injury. When a driver is fatigued, they will have trouble thinking clearly, may become disoriented, may have problems keeping their eyes open, and will have slower reaction times. Safely operating a vehicle, on the other hand, requires sound judgment, focus, attention, and care. Therefore, when fatigue symptoms are combined with operating a vehicle, the result can be deadly.
Because the average fully loaded semi-truck weighs approximately 80,000 pounds, driver fatigue among truck drivers can be particularly dangerous. When a passenger vehicle, which is significantly smaller than a semi truck, is involved in a truck accident, the driver and passengers often experience life-changing and life-threatening injuries.
Driver Fatigue Increases Risk of Accidents
The trucking industry plays a critical role in the American economy — transporting all of our goods throughout the nation. Truck drivers have to commute long distances for prolonged periods of time in order to transport these goods across the country. While a truck driver’s job can be difficult and cause them fatigue, it is not only dangerous but also against federal trucking regulations for drivers to operate their trucks while fatigued. Doing so leaves both the truck driver and the employer at risk for legal and financial liability regarding any harm that may be caused due to truck driver fatigue.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for oversight of the trucking industry and has implemented regulations that require drivers to get proper sleep, limiting the number of consecutive hours they can drive each day, and regulating how many hours they must be off duty and resting. These regulations, known as Hours of Service (HOS), are designed to make sure truck drivers are and remain focused during work time. In addition to HOS, truck drivers must keep a record of their resting and driving hours in a travel log, which must be maintained daily with complete information.
Contact Our Attorneys
If you have been hurt in a truck accident due to the negligent actions of a commercial vehicle operator, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The personal injury attorneys at H&P Law have decades of experience helping truck accident victims, and we can help you, too.
