Every day transport trucks deliver thousands of goods to stores all across the U.S. We might not think about how many hours these goods take to reach our favorite stores. The truth is, truck drivers have to spend several hours behind the wheel to transport these goods. Drivers who spend hours on the road may suffer from fatigue, especially if they are not well rested or sleep deprived.
Tired and fatigued truck drivers pose a threat to themselves and other motorists on the road. When a person is experiencing heavy fatigue, their senses get dulled and reflexes become slow. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA states under federal trucking regulations that all truck drivers must observe the hours-of-service rules. Truck drivers carrying property should not drive more than 11 hours after they have spent 10 consecutive hours off-duty. However, spending 11 hours on the road itself may lead to driver fatigue. On top of this, at times, trucking logs may inaccurately capture the number of hours a driver has been on the road. These could be the ingredients of a potential truck accident.
Truck driver fatigue should not be taken lightly. Along with driver fatigue, several factors may lead to an accident. These include defective auto parts, low maintenance of the vehicle and a negligent driver. There is a lot of pressure on the truck drivers to deliver the goods on time. Trucking companies should set reasonable targets for their drivers to meet. Truck drivers themselves should also not test their limits by driving continuously for long periods of time.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by truck driver fatigue, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries if your claim is valid. Hiring an attorney who specializes in such cases might prove to be in your best interests.
