Do you know issues could be to blame for your truck accident?

On Behalf of | Sep 18, 2019 | Truck Accidents |

When a large truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the results can be catastrophic. Smaller, lighter vehicles are often no match for the bigger size and heavier weight of semitrailers or commercial vehicles. If you were in an accident with a truck, you know firsthand how catastrophic the aftermath of that type of collision can be.

Truck accidents happen for many reasons, and often, they relate to fatigue. If you believe that you are the victim of an accident caused by a negligent or reckless truck driver, you do not have to suffer alone. You could have grounds to seek compensation through a personal injury claim, but it may first help to start by looking into common causes of truck driver fatigue in order to determine what happened to you.

Sleepy truckers are dangerous truckers

Fatigue is one of the leading reasons for truck accidents. Truckers are often behind the wheel for long hours, and they may feel pressure to deliver loads in a certain amount of time. These are only a few of the reasons why fatigue contributes to a significant number of collisions that involve large trucks. Some of the things that can increase a trucker’s sleepiness and affect his or her ability to drive safely include:

  • Many truckers use sleeping pills. Because they often cannot sleep regular hours, they may use these to sleep when they can, but in some cases, these pills can cause drowsiness and difficulty focusing.
  • Truckers often have to sleep in berths that are a part of their truck. They may not get truly restful sleep, which means they could be groggy and still quite tired when they get behind the wheel again.
  • Sleep apnea is a condition that can make it difficult for drivers to stay awake while behind the wheel. This condition is more common with people who are overweight or sedentary for long periods of time, such as truckers.

These are only a few of the factors that can increase the chance that a trucker will cause an accident because he or she is sleepy. A careful and thorough investigation of your case can help you determine if fatigue is to blame.

A trucker is responsible for knowing when he or she is too tired to drive safely, and trucking companies are responsible for holding drivers to high safety standards. If fatigue led to a collision that left you injured, you have the right to seek legal recourse and hold liable parties accountable through the Florida civil justice system.

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attorneys Brad Culpepper and Brett J. Kurland