Overworked, fatigued drivers are behind many commercial truck accidents. That’s why there are so many rules in place aimed at limiting the number of hours in a row that a driver can work. Those rules prevent truck drivers from pushing the limits of their endurance and discourages companies from pressuring them to do so.
RIght now, however, many of those regulations have been lifted for the foreseeable future. Truckers are working long hours to meet increased shipping needs for consumer goods. That could be putting both truckers and others on the road in danger. Fatigue and sleepiness have a similar effect to alcohol on the human body, so tired drivers can be just as dangerous as drunk ones.
In studies involving truck accidents, driver fatigue is associated with numerous problems that have led to tragic wrecks. Some of the problems associated with trucker fatigue include:
- Drivers falling asleep behind the wheel while they’re in motion or stopped at a light
- Drivers having a medical event that affects their ability to drive because of the stress their fatigue put on their bodies
- Drivers growing increasingly distracted as they attempt to stay alert
- Drivers rushing their deliveries in an effort to get off the road, which can cause them to proceed at excessive speeds
- Drivers starting to make poor judgment calls, like taking a curve too quickly or over-correcting on a turn
Truck accidents can be among the most financially, physically and emotionally devastating of all. If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a trucking accident, find out what legal rights you may have to compensation.