Truck drivers face several challenges in their day-to-day work. Ultimately, their job (and remaining employed) depends on whether they can deliver on time. Along the way, they must contend with traffic-clogged highways while remaining on schedule.
Truck drivers may feel pressure to keep driving, even when tired. The duration of their shift is limited, and they must travel as many miles as they can when they are behind the wheel. To do so, the truck driver may cut corners in various ways, including speeding and driving while fatigued, which can put you in danger. The truck driver is operating a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, and they need all of their faculties. Even a momentary lapse in concentration can significantly raise the risk of a serious truck accident.
If you have suffered an injury in an accident due to truck driver fatigue, you may have the legal right to substantial financial compensation. Anytime an accident involves a trucking company, a significant amount of assets is potentially available to pay your claim. If fatigued driving played a role in the accident, a jury may award you punitive damages if you take your case to trial and win.
The first step that you should take is to hire a truck accident lawyer to represent you in the legal process. They can conduct an immediate investigation of your accident to determine the cause. Their role is to work to obtain full financial compensation for your injuries. They can establish your entitlement to damages and fight for you to get every dollar you deserve from the responsible party.
Truck Driver Fatigue Statistics
Truck driver fatigue is a serious safety issue on America’s roads, and the statistics surrounding it are alarming. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), fatigue contributes to approximately 13 percent of all large truck crashes. This statistic means that thousands of accidents yearly are caused by drivers who are too tired to drive safely.
Fatigue affects a driver’s reaction time, decision-making ability, and awareness, similar to the effects of alcohol. The National Safety Council reports that driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent, which is the legal limit in most states. When a truck driver is not at their sharpest, they may have slower reflexes and not have the ability to avoid an accident.
Long hours behind the wheel, tight delivery schedules, and insufficient sleep contribute to driver fatigue. Even though federal regulations limit truckers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour workday and require 10 consecutive hours off duty, violations still occur. In fact, the FMCSA has issued thousands of citations for hours-of-service violations annually, highlighting the ongoing risk.
The problem is hazardous because large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When a fatigued driver loses control, the results are often catastrophic for other drivers and passengers on the road. These accidents almost always occur at high speeds, leading to more serious injuries for those in the crash.
Understanding these statistics underscores the importance of vigorous enforcement, responsible trucking company policies, and holding negligent drivers accountable. Suppose you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck accident involving suspected fatigue. In that case, consulting with a truck accident attorney who can investigate and pursue justice on your behalf is critical.
Why Truck Drivers Are Fatigued
Because of federal trucking regulations, truck drivers have limits on how long they can operate the vehicle. They must take rest breaks and can only drive a certain number of hours a week. However, the pressure of the deadlines that the truck driver must meet is still there. Customers still expect their shipments to arrive on time, and the trucking company pressures drivers to reach their destination on time. Unfortunately, it becomes up to the driver to figure out how they are supposed to arrive on time, no matter how they feel.
Because of the limits on their operation schedule, truck drivers are often looking to maximize the distance they can travel during their shifts. They may not want to drive during the day when there is more traffic, which is precisely why you see more trucks on the roadway at night. Even if the truck driver has taken necessary breaks, their body rhythms may still not allow them to drive effectively and safely at night. They may still be tired and less alert, especially when not appropriately rested during the day. Accordingly, you may be at risk when the truck driver only focuses on covering as much distance as they can when they can.
How Fatigue Affects the Truck Driver
Fatigue significantly impairs a truck driver’s ability to drive safely, making it one of the leading causes of truck accidents. When a driver is tired, their alertness and concentration decrease, slowing reaction times and reducing their ability to respond quickly to sudden changes on the road. Truck drivers often have to stop at a moment’s notice because bringing their vehicle to a complete stop can take up to a tenth of a mile.
Fatigue can cause microsleeps—brief, involuntary episodes of sleep that last just a few seconds. Even a momentary lapse can be dangerous when driving a large commercial truck traveling at high speeds. During microsleeps, a driver loses control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of crashes. By the time they recover full attention, they may have already caused an accident or be well on their way to one.
In addition to microsleeps, fatigue negatively affects judgment and decision-making. A tired driver may misjudge distances, overlook essential traffic signs, or fail to notice hazards quickly. Fatigue also impairs hand-eye coordination and motor skills, making it harder to maintain proper lane positions or execute safe turns. A driver may not see a sign until it is too late to react.
Mental fatigue can cause slowed thinking, irritability, and reduced situational awareness. This state of mind can lead to risky behaviors, such as aggressive driving or neglecting to follow safety protocols. Moreover, prolonged fatigue can impact a driver’s health, leading to chronic conditions that increase accident risk. Truck drivers often lead unhealthy lifestyles because of their time on the road, and their habits may increase the chances of driving fatigue.
Because of these effects, federal regulations limit truck drivers’ hours on the road and require rest periods. However, pressure to meet tight schedules sometimes leads drivers to ignore these rules, increasing the likelihood of fatigue-related accidents. Even if the drivers are following the rules, they can still present an unacceptable risk to the safety of others.
Recognizing how fatigue affects truck drivers highlights the critical need to enforce safety regulations and accountability when negligent driving leads to injury or loss.
Do You Need to Prove Truck Driver Fatigue?
You do not have to prove that the truck driver was fatigued to win your case. Fatigue can manifest through specific actions, such as losing control of the truck or not checking blind spots before changing lanes. So long as you can prove that the truck driver did something unreasonable under the circumstances, you can win your case.
Still, showing that the truck driver was fatigued will benefit your case. Proving that truck driver fatigue caused or contributed to an accident is a critical step in holding the responsible parties accountable. Fatigue is not always immediately apparent, so gathering strong evidence is essential.
One key piece of evidence is the truck driver’s hours-of-service records and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data, which track how many hours the driver has been on duty and driving. If these records show the driver exceeded federal limits or failed to take required rest breaks, it strongly supports a fatigue claim.
Witness statements can also be vital. Before the crash, passengers, other drivers, or bystanders may have noticed signs of drowsiness, such as yawning, nodding off, or erratic driving behavior.
Accident scene evidence may reveal patterns consistent with fatigue, such as the truck drifting across lanes or failing to brake properly. In some cases, video footage from dash cams or nearby surveillance cameras can capture the driver’s behavior leading up to the accident.
Your attorney may also consult with experts, including accident reconstruction specialists and trucking industry consultants, who can analyze the evidence and explain how fatigue likely caused the crash.
Finally, reviewing the trucking company’s policies and history regarding driver scheduling and safety practices can reveal if the company encouraged or ignored fatigue risks, helping your case.
Proving Fatigue Can Strengthen Your Legal Case
It will strengthen your legal case if you prove that the truck driver or trucking company broke the rules. First, trucking companies may be afraid to fight you legally if they know you have evidence that they violated the law. Second, there is a concept of negligence per se at work in personal injury cases. Proving that someone broke the law may be evidence of negligence in itself, and you may not need to confirm otherwise that the truck driver’s actions were negligent.
Proving fatigue may also place you in a position to receive punitive damages should you take your case to trial and win. If you can show that the trucking company pressured the driver to be out on the road or that it has a culture of noncompliance with federal regulations, a jury may seek to send a strong message. The jury will do this by assessing punitive damages that can significantly increase the size of your financial recovery. Juries can figuratively “throw the book” at a trucking company when shocked and outraged by the company’s conduct.
How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help in a Fatigued Driving Case
If you have suffered an injury in a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver, working with an experienced truck accident attorney can significantly improve your chances of obtaining fair compensation. Fatigue-related crashes are often complex and involve multiple layers of responsibility, and an attorney can guide you through this complicated legal process.
First, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation to establish that driver fatigue was a key factor in the accident. This investigation includes obtaining and reviewing the truck driver’s hours-of-service logs, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data, and other relevant records. Your lawyer will also gather police reports, witness statements, accident scene evidence, and any available video footage. These pieces of evidence help build a strong case proving the driver’s negligence.
A skilled truck accident attorney will also explore the role of the trucking company. They will investigate whether the company pressured the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines or failed to monitor compliance with hours-of-service regulations. This evidence can open the door to holding the company liable, which often increases the potential compensation for victims.
Your attorney will handle all communication with insurance companies, which typically try to minimize payouts. They will negotiate aggressively on your behalf and fully account for your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages in any settlement offer.
If you cannot reach a fair settlement, your truck accident lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court. They will advocate for your rights throughout the litigation process, guiding you step-by-step and working to maximize your recovery.
If you are worried about the cost of hiring legal representation, the good news is that most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket unless they win your case. They will handle all the legal aspects of your case without requiring payment up front. This payment structure ensures that your lawyer will work hard to secure the best possible outcome for your case. If your case is unsuccessful, you will not have to worry about covering legal fees, as you only pay if you win.
Call a Truck Accident Attorney Today
When you hire a truck accident attorney, they will work diligently to build a strong case on your behalf, fighting for your rights every step of the way. Ultimately, a knowledgeable truck accident attorney is your strongest ally in navigating the legal challenges of fatigue-related truck accidents and securing the compensation you deserve. Don’t wait, call today.
