Every year, thousands of people lose their lives in severe trucking accidents. A contributing factor in many of these accidents was truck driver fatigue. While there are federal laws in place to prevent drowsy driving in trucking, these rules are often broken – leading to a risk of truck accidents. If you or a loved one has been affected, consulting a Fort Collins truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal options available to seek justice.
Why Is Truck Driver Fatigue So Common?
Commercial truck driving is a difficult job with many factors that inherently increase the odds of fatigue. Truck drivers are expected to undergo long, continuous drives alone, often overnight. Long drives, reversed sleep schedules and uncomfortable sleeper berths can contribute to driver drowsiness. In addition, many truck drivers suffer from sleep apnea due to risk factors such as obesity and smoking. Sleep apnea can interrupt a truck driver’s sleep and cause fatigue.
How Does Fatigue Affect Truck Drivers?
Driving while tired is a significant safety risk, as a drowsy mind and body cannot safely operate a motor vehicle – especially one that requires as much strength and vigilance as a big rig. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 693 deaths occurred due to drowsy driving in 2022.
Fatigue can interfere with driving in numerous ways, including:
- Reduced reaction times
- Delayed response to changing roadway situations
- Decreased muscle strength and motor skills
- Lack of focus and concentration
- Inattention or cognitive distraction
- Poor judgment and decision-making
- Falling asleep behind the wheel
A fatigued truck driver may drift in and out of a single lane, make unsafe lane changes, follow behind other vehicles too closely, accelerate and brake erratically, and suffer mental impairment that studies have shown is similar to being intoxicated. Anything that affects a truck operator in this manner greatly increases the risk of collisions. If you’ve been involved in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, consider consulting a Fort Collins truck accident attorney to help navigate the legal implications and seek compensation for your injuries.
Are There Rules to Prevent Truck Driver Fatigue?
Truck driver fatigue is such a major issue that federal laws have been passed to prevent it. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces regulations known as hours-of-service rules that limit the number of hours a commercial truck driver can operate a vehicle without taking a rest break.
Under these laws, a property-carrying truck driver may not exceed 14 consecutive hours of driving after 10 hours off-duty. There is also an 11-hour driving time limit and a 60/70-hour limit over 7/8 consecutive days. Unfortunately, many truck drivers break these laws due to the economic pressure placed on them by employers.
How to Prove a Drowsy Driving Truck Accident Case
In 2021, 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal collisions. When truck driver fatigue causes a harmful accident, those affected can pursue financial compensation from the truck driver and/or trucking company. Trucking companies are often held responsible for accidents involving their drivers, including collisions that take place because of preventable drowsy driving.
In addition, a truck company could be found liable if it contributed to driver fatigue, such as by pressuring drivers to exceed their hours-of-service restrictions. The evidence that may be available to prove drowsy driving includes driver logbooks, the driver’s medical history, company compliance records, eyewitness statements and the truck’s black box.
If you get injured in an accident caused by truck driver fatigue in Colorado, contact a Fort Collins personal injury lawyer at Cannon Law to discuss your legal options during a free initial consultation. For accidents in the Denver area, a Denver personal injury lawyer can also provide valuable assistance in securing compensation for your injuries.