Sleepy Truck Drivers Put Motorists’ Lives at Risk

 Posted on May 06, 2019 in Truck Accidents

Driving an 18-wheeler truck or tractor-trailer is not an easy job. Often, drivers are expected to drive hundreds of miles a day and deal with stresses like traffic congestion, detours, and other slowdowns which make their days even longer. Unfortunately, this leads to many drivers being chronically exhausted and sleep-deprived. Some truck drivers end up taking stimulants just to stay awake and drive. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an accident involving a fatigued or otherwise incapacitated truck driver, you may be able to get financial compensation for your losses.

Studies Show Truck Driver Fatigue is a Major Factor in Truck Accidents

In a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was found that approximately 13 percent of serious crashes involving large trucks are caused by driver fatigue. Other factors which contributed to serious truck accidents include driver drug use, including both legal and illegal drugs, inattention to the road, and driver illness. Truck drivers are often operating vehicles that can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. A vehicle of this size can do cause colossal damage during a crash.

Truck Drivers Must Follow Certain Rules Regarding Sleep and Rest

Because sleepy truck drivers are such a threat to motorists’ safety, there are certain state and federal regulations which dictate how many hours truck drivers can drive in a given time period. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires truck drivers to take regular breaks to rest. A driver who is not following these federal guidelines may be considered negligent and liable for damages caused by an accident. Truck drivers must record the hours that they drove and when they rested in a log book. These log books are often crucial pieces of evidence during in a personal injury lawsuit against a truck driver or trucking company.

Drug Use Among Truck Drivers Continues to Be a Problem

The FMCSA study also reported that both over-the-counter and illegal drug use was a major factor in many truck accident cases. About 20 percent of serious truck accidents involved a driver who took medication, drugs, or was under the influence of alcohol. Often, truck drivers must work long hours and sleep at odd times in order to meet deadlines. They may use sleeping pills to help fall asleep during their rest periods—medications that might not out of their system by the time they drive. Drivers may also use stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine to stay awake. These substances impair a driver’s ability to drive and also mask the driver’s ability to realize how sleepy he or she really is.

Contact a San Jose, California Personal Injury Attorney

Speak with the Santa Clara County truck accident lawyers at The Law Office of John J. Garvey, III to learn more about how you can receive compensation for your truck accident-related damages. Call us at 408-293-7777 to schedule a free, no-obligation initial case consultation.

Sources:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/large-truck-crash-causation-study-analysis-brief

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rules-to-curb-sleepy-truck-drivers-are-breaking-down/