Long and overnight trips to transport goods and cargo throughout the country make getting enough sleep and physical health essential for truckers. Operating commercial trucks, such as 18-wheelers, while tired can have severe and deadly consequences for the truck driver and those traveling near them. Drowsiness combined with the stress from long hours and tight deadlines is a recipe for disaster, often causing impaired reaction times, judgment, and concentration.

You could be eligible for compensation if you suffered bodily harm and property damage from a negligent trucker or their employer. For more information, speak to a board-certified lawyer with experience handling cases resulting from fatigued truck drivers in Southaven accidents. Call to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned truck crash attorney at The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs.

Causes of Drowsy Driving Truck Crashes

Safely operating heavy commercial vehicles, such as 18-wheelers, requires coordination, concentration, and alertness, as they are challenging to control in the best circumstances. Some common causes of drowsy trucker crashes include:

  • Falling asleep at the wheel
  • Decreased trucker alertness
  • Operator distractions
  • Slower reaction times
  • Deviating from lanes or drifting off roadways
  • Failing to take all the necessary precautions before maneuvering

A lawyer skilled in handling cases involving tired truck operators in Southaven crashes can investigate to determine the cause and responsible party.

The Dangers of Fatigued Truckers

Fatigue from physical, emotional, and mental exertion may occur because of a lack of adequate sleep or rest breaks, strenuous work, and high-stress levels. According to analysis of data gathered through multiple studies by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, fatigue impairs performance significantly. It causes over ten percent of tractor-trailer collisions occurring throughout the country yearly.

Safe heavy commercial vehicle operation requires that truckers receive adequate sleep to avoid slower response times and mistakes caused by impaired judgment. When truck drivers experience drowsiness while traveling, they must locate a safe stopping place to pull over and rest.

Tips to Avoid Crashes

Tips to stay alert on highways include:

  • Getting an adequate amount of sleep and rest
  • Hydration
  • Maintaining a healthy diet
  • Avoiding medications that cause drowsiness

Truckers should also watch for indicators, such as excessive yawning and blurred vision, telling them they require rest and should pull over to take naps. David E. Gordon has extensive experience with fatigued truck drivers in Southaven wrecks and can help recover a fair settlement amount to cover injuries and losses.

Hours-of-Service

Truckers must adhere to the hours-of-service guidelines while transporting freight or face penalties. The maximum allowable time they may operate the vehicles depends on the type of truck and other factors.

However, the regulations prohibit most from working over 70 hours in seven-day workweeks. While they used to have to keep manual logs of the hours they drove during each shift, most have electronic logging devices that log their time automatically.

Call a Southaven Attorney After a Fatigued Truck Driver Accident

The trucking industry is critical for the country’s economic health and transporting goods. However, the much larger size of trucks, such as 18-wheelers, makes accidents severe. Therefore, the federal and state governments regulate drivers and their employers, including setting limits on hours behind the wheel to prevent avoidable collisions and promote highway safety.

Truckers and their employers have teams ready to defend them after collisions. Therefore, working with an experienced lawyer skilled in handling cases from fatigued truck drivers in Southaven accidents can significantly improve your chance of success. Please call the Law Office of David E. Gordon today for help with your case.

The Law Offices of David E. Gordon

The Law Offices of David E. Gordon
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