Long Hours & Driver Fatigue

National Truck Accident Lawyer and Attorney

Truck driver fatigue is one of the most pressing highway safety issues today. Anywhere from 1-in-8 to 1-in-4 big rig accidents are directly related to tired drivers working excessive hours. It is likely that fatigue is a contributing factor in many other accidents. In fact the 2007 Large Truck Crash Causation Study found that of the “critical reasons” why an 18 wheeler crashed, 7% of the time it was because the driver was literally asleep at the wheel.

You don’t have to be actually asleep to be a hazard on the road. Sleep deprivation can reduce reaction time in the same way that alcohol does. After a certain point, the risk of an accident increases exponentially – in other words, truck driver fatigue can go from a small problem to a big one very quickly.

FMCSA Increases Hours Truck Drivers Can Work

The results and dangers of truck driver fatigue and excessive hours has long been recognized – it is accepted fact. Yet in 2005, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) actually extended the maximum number of hours a truck driver could work by 17 hours a week. This was largely due to pressure from the trucking industry lobby, which stated this would actually make the highways safer since there would be less new drivers on the road taking on the growing loads.

In July 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court voided these changes. Although industry advocates said that this move would raise trucking costs, the move is aimed at reducing truck driver fatigue.

Excessive Hours From Driver Choices

Most people assume that truck driver fatigue due to excessive hours driving is largely the fault of the trucking company. It is true that there is pressure to keep to schedules and deliver on time. Traffic delays, construction delays, accident delays, and other circumstances can slow down 18 wheelers, forcing the drivers to stay on the road longer to make up the time.

But drivers are a direct part of the problem too. Many are paid by the mile, not by the hour, so it is in their best interest to complete the route as quickly as possible. Some push through to avoid rush hour traffic down the road; others want to get home early to their families. In fact there are many reasons why drivers stay on the road longer than they should.

And even with laws regulating the number of hours, enforcement is so lax that rarely if ever do drivers or companies need to submit driver logs and receipts for review. Unless, of course, truck driver fatigue and excessive hours on the road are found to be a factor in an 18 wheeler accident.

There are many regulations that affect truck drivers and trucking companies, most that the average person doesn’t even know about. Before you accept any payments from an insurance company, and before you sign any papers, contact David P. Willis for a free consultation. Mr. Willis will let you know what your rights are, and what you may be able to expect in terms of a settlement.

Truck driver fatigue is a real problem, and one you may not know was a direct factor in your accident unless you do an investigation. Let David P. Willis help you find out the facts, and get you the compensation you deserve.

Truck Accident Lawyer and Attorney

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed in an 18 wheeler trucking accident, caused by the negligence or gross negligence of the truck driver or trucking company, then call us toll free at 1-800-883-9858 to discuss your potential truck accident lawsuit. Know your legal rights and remedies under the law, talk to a trial lawyer with 20+ years of personal injury experience in representing injured clients and their families. Mr. Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Call and speak with an attorney who has experience in handling significant cases involving serious injuries and catastrophic losses to those injured and their families.

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