Accidents Caused by Driver Fatigue
Federal regulations dictate the number of hours a driver can operate a truck without resting. Drivers may violate these regulations when they are being paid by the mile or have been offered incentives to get the load to its destination quickly. Whatever their reasons for not resting as required, drivers who are tired from lack of sleep are often a hazard of the road. Driver fatigue is a contributing factor to many accidents, some of which cause serious injury and even death.
At Burnside Law Firm LLP, our attorneys investigate trucking accidents to determine whether driver fatigue played a part in causing the wreck. Then, we seek full compensation for the injuries, expenses and lost income of our clients. Contact our law firm at (706) 432-8320 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our lawyers have many years of experience building strong cases based upon driver fatigue and will use this experience to help you get the compensation you deserve.
How We Investigate Accidents
To learn whether driver fatigue was a cause of your accident, we look at issues such as the following:
- Review driver logs
- Request highway inspection station records
- Request cell phone and credit card records
- Determine whether the driver kept a second log book to hide violation of rest requirements
- Review driver’s record for health problems that might compound the effects of fatigue
- Request electronic surveillance methods used by the trucking company
Investigation of these issues helps determine whether violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules lead to driver fatigue that contributed to the accident. Drivers who are tired have slower reflexes and difficulty focusing their eyes. If the driver was already inattentive because of cell phone or TV use, the combination could cause a catastrophic accident with serious injuries.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer, contact our law firm for a free initial consultation to learn more about driver fatigue and its role in accidents. Contact our law firm at (706) 432-8320.
