How Driver Fatigue Leads to Truck Accidents

Driver fatigue reduces a trucker’s reaction time, judgment, and awareness. At the same time, it increases a truck driver’s risk of having their vehicle drift in and out of their lane, braking unexpectedly, and microsleep episodes in which this individual loses consciousness for seconds. Due to these things and others, truck driver fatigue has the potential to lead to accidents that result in injuries, fatalities, and property damage to those involved. 

If a truck driver blames fatigue for an accident in which they slam their vehicle into yours, hold this individual accountable for their actions. Meet with an experienced truck accident attorney in Lexington within days of the incident. Your attorney can start building your case for compensatory damages for your accident losses right away. Call us today at (859) 268-4300 for a free case evaluation.

Fatigue Makes It Tough for a Truck Driver to Stay Focused

According to the Truck Safety Coalition, truck driver fatigue has been a safety concern and a key factor in fatal truck crashes for decades. The coalition points out that research indicates that 65% of truck drivers say they often or sometimes feel drowsy while they drive. Additionally, nearly 50% of truckers have admitted to falling asleep while driving in the past year. 

The National Safety Council (NSC) notes that the effects of driving while drowsy are similar to those someone would experience if they were driving under the influence of alcohol. If a trucker is drowsy, their reaction times, awareness of hazards, and ability to pay attention to the road are worse than they would be if they were fully alert. Along with this, if a trucker is driving and has gone more than 20 hours without sleep, this is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, the U.S. legal limit. 

Fatigued truckers are dangerous drivers. If you are injured in an accident caused by a trucker engaged in drowsy driving, get legal help. Your Kentucky personal injury attorney can gather a truck’s black box data, statements from witnesses who saw your accident, traffic camera footage of the incident, and other evidence to help you prove that a trucker was driving while drowsy. 

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Cause of Truck Driver Fatigue

Long hours behind the wheel, violations of FMCSA hours of service (HOS) regulations, and irregular sleep patterns are common causes of truck driver fatigue. Regardless, it is the responsibility of a trucker to do what’s necessary to protect against accidents. If a truck driver chooses to operate a vehicle while fatigued, they can cause an accident and be held liable for it. 

FMCSA offers commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driving tips to help truckers avoid fatigue behind the wheel, such as:

• Get sufficient sleep before driving
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Take naps
• Avoid any medications that could lead to drowsiness
• Know the signs of drowsiness or exhaustion, which include frequent yawning and blurred vision
• Don’t depend on drinking coffee, playing loud music, or other “alertness tricks” to try to stay awake

There is no excuse for drowsy driving. If a trucker chooses to drive while fatigued, they put themselves and other motorists and pedestrians in danger. 

Following a truck accident in which a trucker claims they were fatigued, you have the right to take legal action. Speak with a truck accident attorney who’s received dozens of positive client testimonials. This proven personal injury lawyer in Lexington will go the extra mile for their clients and put you in a great position to recover damages for your accident losses.