Truck Accident Lawyer
Driving while fatigued is dangerous for anyone. But perhaps even more so when truck drivers get behind the wheel of a semi after not having enough rest or driving too many hours in one sitting. Driver fatigue has similar effects as if you are intoxicated. Extreme fatigue can even cause you to fall asleep behind the wheel because your body is so depleted. No one should get behind the wheel of a vehicle if they do not have the energy to do so. As a truck accident lawyer explains, truck drivers in particular are put under pressure to meet certain deadlines, which means they may lack sleep or drive longer hours than they are supposed to in order to get to their destination on time.
When a truck accident happens, it can lead to immense property damage, personal injury, and tragedy. People may lose their lives because of the sheer size and force of a semi truck. Most passenger vehicles are only a fraction of the size of a commercial truck, which means they are vulnerable to suffering more damage in the event of a collision. If the truck driver or other party causes a truck accident to happen, people may turn to a law firm, such as Wandres Law, P.C., to seek restitution for what they have endured.
If you notice that a truck driver near you is swerving within their lane or across many lanes, speeding, suddenly braking or accelerating, or doing some other maneuver that is unsafe, don’t hesitate to call the police. A trucker that is not driving in a safe manner can eventually cause an accident, either with you or someone else on the road. There are many contributing factors of truck driver fatigue, such as driving during hours when our bodies are naturally drowsy (12AM-6AM), taking certain medications, being overworked, and untreated sleep disorders. Truck drivers are not the only ones that experience fatigue, but they are more likely to have it because of the nature of their jobs. This especially applies to long haul truck drivers, who may have to drive and in extended shifts of around 11 hours at a time.
Based on the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), truck drivers on average get just over 5 hours of sleep on a consistent basis, which is not enough to maintain the degree of alertness required to operate a commercial vehicle. Truck driver fatigue occurs more prevalently than you may think. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates drowsiness is the cause of almost 100,000 crashes each year. Within that amount, there are hundreds and thousands of people who are injured or lose their life. By being aware of your surroundings and giving semi trucks plenty of room to maneuver, you can reduce the chances of being in a serious accident. But if a collision does occur, remember that there is legal recourse available for those injured, who may be owed compensation for medical bills, property damage, and other ways they have been affected.