Research shows that driving while extremely fatigued can have similar effects as a certain level of intoxication from drugs or alcohol. For this reason, driving while fatigued can be extremely dangerous behavior. Fatigued driving is especially dangerous for commercial truck drivers who are often behind the wheel of 80,000 pound vehicles. If these drivers fall asleep at the wheel, you can only imagine the devastating damage and injury that may occur. Unfortunately, because of the required long hours on the road, truck driving and the risk of fatigue often go hand in hand. If you are injured by a negligently fatigued truck driver, an experienced Coweta County truck accident attorney can help you hold that driver responsible for his actions.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict regulations regarding truck driver hours of service in order to try to combat fatigued driving. However, other factors may contribute to fatigue even when a driver follows the hours of service rules. These include the following:
- Driving during nighttime hours
- Irregular sleeping schedules
- Tight delivery schedules
- Repetitive and monotonous highway driving
- Health conditions
- Unhealthy eating and improper nutrition
- Lack of physical activity
- Attempting to sleep in the truck cab or at busy truck stops
- Stress, depression, and isolation
- Continuously driving in heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions
Drivers should practice self-awareness and know when they should not drive even if they are within regulations.
Contact a Coweta County truck accident attorney today for a free consultation
Proving that a driver was negligent in driving while fatigued may be complicated and may require thorough investigation of time logs and other delivery records. If there is no clear violation of hours of service regulations, showing negligence may be even more difficult. However, the experienced truck accident attorneys at Shane Smith Law are knowledgeable about truck accident cases and are dedicated to getting accident victims the compensation they deserve. If you have been injured in an accident, do not hesitate to call our office at (980) 246-2656 today for help.