A drowsy driver can be a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road. When you are sleepy behind the wheel, you can make mistakes or react too slowly. So it is especially important that truck drivers, who are piloting larger and heavier vehicles, do not get behind the wheel when they have not had enough sleep. If they get behind the wheel despite how tired they are, driver fatigue can easily cause an accident. If you are harmed in such an accident, a San Antonio, Texas truck accident lawyer from our firm can assist you.
How Can the Trucking Industry Prevent Driver Fatigue?
While it may seem difficult to ensure that your drivers are never tired, there have actually been all sorts of efforts to curb driver fatigue and prevent more accidents involving trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has developed many rules and regulations designed to make the trucking industry safer.
One important set of rules concerns how long drivers can be on the road for and when they should take breaks. A driver cannot drive for more than 11 hours a day or be on duty for more than 14 consecutive hours in a given 24-hour period. They also must take a rest for 10 hours after that 14 hours is up.
Who Should Be Held Responsible When a Trucker Violates the Rules?
So if a trucker violates these rules and an accident is caused by driver fatigue, who should be blamed? Obviously the driver played a role here, but sometimes the trucking company itself needs to be held responsible as well. This is especially true if there is evidence that:
- It knew the driver was falsifying driving records
- The truck driver was being pushed to meet unreasonable deadlines
- The company pressured the driver to ignore hours of service rules
What Kinds of Injuries Are Common in Accidents Caused by Driver Fatigue?
Truck accidents can be especially deadly because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved. Driver fatigue can easily result in an accident that causes:
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
Any of these injuries can result in serious medical bills, so be ready to fight for compensation that will adequately make up for everything that you have experienced as a result of this accident.
Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
You are not required to hire a truck accident lawyer, but you should know that an attorney from our firm will advocate on your behalf and help you fight for the best possible outcome. We will gather the evidence you need, answer your legal questions, and protect you from any accusations of wrongdoing or fault.
Schedule a Consultation Today
When you are ready to move forward with a personal injury case, do not waste any time. Contact the Sahadi Legal Group and schedule a free consultation. We can answer any questions that you may have, and we will do everything that we can to help you fight for the compensation that you deserve.
