At Nunes Law, Inc, our truck accident attorneys in Fresno know that one of the main causes of semi-truck crashes is truck driver fatigue.
Crashes caused by an 80,000-pound semi-truck driven by a drowsy driver on California roadways can lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities that change our clients’ lives without notice.
Like all accidents caused by negligence, these crashes are preventable, but still increasingly common.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF TRUCK DRIVER FATIGUE IN CALIFORNIA?
Truck drivers transport more than 70% of the country’s goods, which makes for very demanding schedules, and long travel days and nights guided by intense pressure to perform from their employers.
When trucking companies place demands on their drivers to deliver more shipments in shorter turnaround times, drivers may forego the rest and sleep breaks required by the federal Hours of Service Regulations, placing profits over the safety of every other driver on our California roadways.
The result often leads to a lack of sleep and drowsy driving that causes slower reaction times and lapses in judgment, which can cause serious collisions that cause life-changing injuries or even death.
When these regulations are violated, the driver and the trucking company may be held responsible for an accident that occurs, making one or both parties liable for our client’s financial recovery needs.
HOW MANY TRUCK ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY TRUCK DRIVER FATIGUE?
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates truck accidents across the country to determine their causes and estimates that truck driver fatigue plays a role in up to 40% of commercial truck crashes that occur nationwide each year.
Although drowsy driving cannot be measured during a roadside test, like a breathalyzer is used to detect intoxicated driving, the risks can be the same.
When drivers operate their vehicles with just four to five hours of sleep, they exhibit some of the same risks as drivers with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of intoxication.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision with a fatigued or otherwise negligent truck driver, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys in Fresno at Nunes Law, Inc today by calling (559) 702-5124 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options to hold the driver and the trucking company liable for your complete financial recovery.