The American Trucking Association reported that at least one out of every 15 individuals is working in the trucking industry. Each year, these truck drivers travel across miles and miles of road, carrying tens of billions of pounds of cargo. With these figures presented before us, and knowing that at any given moment, a truck is driving right alongside you—we never think about whether or not something will go wrong.
This is why truck accidents cause countless numbers of accidents each and every year, with thousands of people suffering severe injuries, some of which become fatal. The largest reason for this? Truck drivers are drifting by without adequate sleep.
HAS DRIVER FATIGUED BECOME AN INCREASING PROBLEM?
The federal government has stepped in to put a stop to drowsy driving and truck driver fatigue in particular. The agency that governs the trucking industry is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and they implemented regulations to encourage truck drivers to get more sleep.
The laws regulate the following:
- Drivers must not exceed the mileage limits
- Drivers must not exceed the hourly driving limits
- Drivers must stop to get rest if they have been driving for longer than 8 hours without a break
- Break times must last at least 30 minutes
A drowsy truck driver poses risks to other drivers in a similar way as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Lack of sleep over time affects judgment, focus, concentration, and the ability to retain information. So, for example, there was an obstacle on the road and the truck driver was unable to react quickly enough to avoid it. The driver may brake suddenly, causing the truck to skid, jackknife, or worse.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS—CALL US!
If you have been injured in a truck accident, and you believe that it was due to a drowsy driver, give us a call as soon as possible. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers at Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law possess over 25 years of experience representing those who were unjustly hurt due to a negligent truck driver.
Call (888) 906-3955 and request a free case consultation.