Why Fatigue Is Such A Problem With Commercial Truck Drivers

The of the most common reasons why trucks crash into small passenger vehicles is driver fatigue, and this might be the chief reason why you were involved in a truck accident. While there are regulations in place to restrict how many hours a truck driver is allowed to operate a vehicle, these regulations are sometimes not followed. Then, your truck accident attorney will need to prove that the driver was fatigued to maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries.

Fatigued Driving Is Getting Worse

Drivers are placed under more pressure to move cargo under tight deadlines. Drivers are also expected to operate their vehicles in crowded areas with a lot of traffic. As a result, this creates many opportunities for an accident. Driving while fatigued is similar to driving while under the influence of alcohol. In fact, drivers can be arrested for driving while exhausted. In extreme cases, the driver might even fall asleep behind the wheel.

Efforts Taken to Combat Long Driver Hours

Drivers were once required to keep paper logs. However, employers would simply require their drivers to keep one paper log that would be submitted for when they were paid and one that was meant for the government. The latter could include fraudulent records. However, the Department of Transportation has moved to an electronic monitoring system. Some drivers may also have other problems, however, that can affect how alert they are. For example, a driver might work another job and be exhausted from their other line of work.

Actions Drivers Take That Make Matters Worse

Some drivers will abuse drugs in an attempt to stay awake. When they have to sleep in-between shirts, they might take sleeping pills. But when they wake up, they might find that they're groggy and unable to safely operate a vehicle. However, you might have a difficult time finding out about any of this. Therefore, you will want to contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible so your attorney can conduct an investigation. Information that you might think is impossible to prove may be easier to prove than you think.

Finding out if the driver was exhausted while driving can be a crucial part of your case because the driver will be considered negligent. If your case goes to trial, the judge may also want to make an example of the truck company and may choose to award you punitive damages as well. Reach out to a truck accident lawyer about your case. 


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