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Truck Driver Fatigue Can Lead to Truck Accidents

Goldstein Heslop Steele Clapper Oswalt & Smith Dec. 12, 2021

Truck accidents can significantly harm victims leave victims and leave victims with challenges they never expected to face. There are a variety of different negligent behaviors that can lead to a truck accident including a truck driver who is speeding, under the influence or inattentive. Truck accidents can also be caused truck driver fatigue and truck drivers who do not get adequate rest to be on the roadways.

Truck driver fatigue can impair driving performance and result in truck accidents. A lack of adequate sleep, strenuous work hours and unreasonable expectations may lead to truck driver fatigue and truck accidents. According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 13 percent of commercial vehicle drivers were considered fatigued at the time of their truck accident. It is important for truck drivers to get the sleep they need each night and avoid driving when they are naturally drowsy.

Truck drivers should also take naps as needed. In addition to getting rest before getting behind the wheel, truck drivers should maintain a healthy diet as much as possible. Truck drivers should also avoid medications as much as possible. They should learn to recognize the signs of drowsiness and what to do if they feel drowsy which includes pulling over to rest. Truck drivers who fail to remain alert while driving, or trucking companies that push truck drivers into unreasonable deadlines that result in truck driver fatigue and accidents, may be liable to victims for the damages they have suffered.

When a truck driver or trucking company has negligently harmed a truck accident victim, it is important for them to be familiar with their legal resources. Truck accident victims can recover compensation for the physical, financial or emotional damages as from truck drivers or trucking companies who failed to safely share the roadways.