If you're a victim of a truck accident, you may have a lot of questions. At Wilson Law, P.A. we want to help you on your road to recovery, answering as many questions as our dedicated professionals can throughout the process. One of the most pressing questions we face in this particular situation is "Why did this happen?" Instead of leaving it to fate or chance, we dive deeper into the issues, finding a root cause. And in most cases, truck accidents are caused by a primary recurring problem: driver fatigue.
What Causes Driver Fatigue?
The main cause of truck driver fatigue stems from a combination of unrealistic schedules managed by the transportation companies, as well as truck drivers violating the hours of service regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These hours of service regulations essentially limit the amount of consecutive hours a driver can be behind the wheel. However, due to strict deadlines and harsh schedules, truckers are often forced to go over the maximum limit, posing dangers to other drivers on the road.
A tired driver can fall asleep at the wheel and cause a serious, and sometimes fatal, crash. According to drowsydriving.org, "The National Highway Traffic safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses."
Even when truck drivers adhere to these government-imposed hours of service limitations, there are instances when they are still driving while tired. It is the driver's responsibility to pull over and rest, as well as the trucking company's responsibility to train the driver to do so. If either the driver or the company fail to do their part in ensuring safe driving practices, it can constitute as negligence.
Who Will Fight For You?
When truck drivers negligently continue driving while fatigued, the driver and potentially the trucking company may be held responsible for your injuries sustained in an accident. We can help you explore your rights and options after you've been injured in a truck accident. Speak with one of our experienced truck accident attorneys at Wilson Law, P.A. today to get the process started.
Give us a call at (919) 800-0919 to schedule a free consultation at our Raleigh personal injury office.