Driver Fatigue and the Increased Risk of Trucking Accidents
Driving commercial trucks is a demanding job that requires significant concentration and focus. Driving while fatigued can make it difficult for truck drivers to meet the demands of their job, potentially resulting in catastrophic consequences. Trucking accidents can cause serious injuries, permanently changing victims’ lives.
At Foley Law Firm, our attorneys help victims of trucking accidents and driver fatigue in Scranton, PA, Stroudsburg, PA, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and surrounding areas recover compensation for their injuries and other damages. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. To discuss your claim, contact the Foley Law Firm today.
How Does Fatigue Increase the Risk of Accidents?
Truck drivers commonly have strict delivery deadlines. Meeting those deadlines may often mean that truckers skip breaks, delay sleeping, and drive while fatigued. Driving while tired is very dangerous and increases the risk of accidents.
Some ways driving while fatigued increases the risk of accidents includes:
- Slower reaction times: Fatigue causes slower reaction times. When driving, this can make it difficult for truckers to react quickly enough to unexpected hazards.
- Clouded thinking: It’s difficult to think clearly when tired. Driving while fatigued can cause truckers to potentially run a red light or not see an approaching vehicle.
- Increased irritability: Fatigue also increases irritability. Irritability while driving can lead to aggressive behaviors that can result in an accident.
- Swerving and lane drifting: Drowsy drivers may swerve and drift into neighboring lanes, sometimes into another vehicle or even off the road.
- Long work hours: There are federal laws that limit how long truck drivers can drive and how long they need to have off between driving shifts. However, there isn’t a great deal of oversight to make sure that drivers and their employers follow the law. As a result, drivers are sometimes forced to work long hours and drive while fatigued.
When and Where Are Fatigued-driving Accidents Most Likely to Occur?
Truck drivers must work at all hours of the day and night. Accordingly, an accident caused by driver fatigue can happen at any time. However, fatigued-driving accidents are most likely to occur between midnight and 6 a.m. and the late afternoon.
Trucking accidents caused by fatigued driving can happen on any road but most commonly occur on highways and rural roads.
Seeking Compensation for Damages
Due to the enormous size of commercial trucks, trucking accidents can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities. When trucking accidents are caused by a fatigued driver, it may be possible to recover compensation for injuries and other damages either from the driver or their employer. Some types of damages that may be recovered include:
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Hospital expenses
- Physical therapy
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Schedule a Consultation at Foley Law Firm
If you have been injured in a trucking accident and would like to discuss your options for recovering compensation, call Foley Law Firm at (570) 342-8194 to schedule a consultation.
