How Truck Driver Fatigue Leads to Serious Crashes

There are a lot of things you should not do when driving. At the top of the list should be don’t drink and drive, don’t drive while texting, and don’t drive drowsy. Those rules are vital to follow for anyone behind the wheel of a vehicle, but especially with truck drivers.

If a truck driver falls asleep while driving a fully loaded 18-wheeler, it can lead to serious crashes.

Even though it might seem like a drowsy truck driver should take full responsibility for the crash, there could be mitigating circumstances that lead to a trucking company also being held liable. That is when a truck accident claim becomes complicated and requires the support of an experienced Casper truck accident attorney.

The attorneys at Edwards Law Office, P.C., have helped many Wyoming residents pursue claims against truck drivers, trucking companies, and other parties who need to be held accountable. Those liable parties can only be identified through a complete investigation beginning with how drowsiness might have contributed to the accident.

How Fatigue Degrades Driving Ability

When a drowsy driver attempts to operate their rig, they can find themselves extremely compromised. This is how fatigue degrades a driver’s ability to safely operate their ride.

Here’s what can happen:

• Delayed Reaction Times: When a truck driver is drowsy, their ability to respond quickly to sudden stops or traffic shifts is dramatically reduced. For example, a driver who has been awake for 17 hours can experience cognitive impairment that is equivalent to a 0.04% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). That can drop their reaction time by roughly 50%.
• Impaired Judgment and Focus: Fatigue limits a truck driver’s ability to make rapid, safe decisions. A drowsy truck driver will misjudge following distances, fail to notice traffic signs, or miscalculate the speed of cars on either side.
• Microsleeps: Exhausted drivers are highly susceptible to “microsleeps.” These are brief, involuntary lapses in consciousness that can last up to 30 seconds. Imagine being behind the wheel of a semi-truck at 65 mph and closing your eyes for 30 seconds? Even an 8-second microsleep will have the truck barreling down roughly 760 feet of road. That can lead to a wave of destruction.

Federal Hours of Service Regulations for Commercial Drivers

Because of the potential harm a drowsy driver can cause, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established hours-of-service regulations. Most commercial drivers must follow these strict limits:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit: Drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
• 14-Hour On-Duty Limit: All driving and on-duty tasks must be completed within a 14-hour window, after which a 10-hour consecutive rest is required.
• 30-Minute Break Requirement: Drivers must take a qualifying 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving time.
• Weekly Limit (70-Hour Rule): Drivers cannot drive after surpassing 60 hours of on-duty time in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. The weekly clock can be completely reset by taking a 34-hour consecutive restart off-duty.

A truck driver is not only obliged to follow those service hours, but they must also keep a log of their working hours. Those logs can be used as evidence in a truck accident claim.

Even if the driver follows the rules, they are still on the road for an extremely long time, which can contribute to drowsiness. Your truck accident attorney will be able to analyze the logs and apply them to your claim.

Common Signs of Drowsy Driving in Trucking Accidents

At any given time, you could be surrounded by dozens of vehicles as you make your way down I-25 or the Wyoming Highway. You might not remember any of those cars, but you’ll certainly take notice of a large truck that is either coming up in your rearview mirror or on the road ahead of you.

You might also notice some of these common signs of drowsy driving:

• Unintentional Lane Drifting: This happens when the truck crosses over the center line, hugs the shoulder, or repeatedly hits the roadway rumble strips.
• Inconsistent Speed: The truck flows unexpectedly between speeding and driving significantly below the speed limit.
• Reckless Maneuvers: Following too closely, like tailgating, failing to use turn signals, or making jerky, overcorrected steering movements.
• Missing Traffic Signals: Ignoring highway exit signs, stop signs, or traffic lights.

Why Trucking Companies May Be Liable for Driver Exhaustion

When you get into an accident caused by another car driver, you can directly assign blame to that driver. In a truck accident, the driver will be the primary at-fault party, but the trucking company they work for can also be held liable under the legal doctrine of Respondeat Superior.

That’s when employers are generally legally responsible for their employees’ negligence if an employee causes harm while on the job.

That would include driving while drowsy due to Hours of Service violations. If the trucking company fails to enforce rest periods and allows drivers to exceed HOS limits, the company can be held accountable.

If a company hires a driver with a documented history of HOS violations, that could be another reason why they would be held liable.

How a Casper Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Truck Accident Claim

When you’re dealing with injuries, car repairs, and lost work due to a truck accident, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. The moment you get an insurance company involved, you’re now dealing with an adjuster who is going to try everything within their power to deny or reduce your claim.

This is why you need an advocate like you’ll find at the Edwards Law Office, P.C.

If we agree to support you in your claim, we’ll take over all the communications with the adjuster. That includes kicking off negotiations to arrive at a fair settlement. We’ll back up those demands with strong evidence and a thorough calculation of all the damages you’ve endured as a result of the accident. While you focus on your recovery, we focus on getting what you’re due.

If a fair settlement can’t be reached, we are prepared to pursue your claim through litigation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident, contact Edwards Law Office, P.C. to discuss your legal options.

Our goal is to provide you with the support and guidance you need to navigate the claims process.