Local Law Firms Home > Auto Car Crash Overview > Truck Accidents Truck Accidents: Unrealistic DeadlinesTruck drivers throughout the country work long hours with very demanding work schedules, and frequently are required to meet unrealistic deadlines that are set by the trucking company or the shipper of the goods they are hauling. This is when truck driver fatigue can occur, resulting in a very dangerous situation for the trucker and other drivers and passengers on the road. Fatigue and lack of sleep have become some of the leading causes to highway truck wrecks throughout the nation. In addition to fatigue, truck drivers may excessively speed in order to meet these deadlines, resulting in an accident. Were you or a loved one involved in a truck accident as a direct result of the trucker’s unrealistic deadlines? Our lawyers can help! Contact our personal injury attorneys today. A trucker trying to meet unrealistic deadlines may cause:
Driver fatigue is often the result of a trucker working and driving too many hours without sleep, therefore violating Hours of Service (HOS) laws. Driver fatigue is a leading factor in truck accidents by up to 40 percent. Sleep deprivation can impair a trucker’s judgment in addition to slowing down their reaction time, the same way drunk driving does. Fatigue is frequently part of the reason, but not always the entire reason, an accident occurs. A driver does not have to fall asleep behind the wheel in order for a catastrophic accident to occur. A fatigued driver may react too slowly to an accident that would have happened regardless, whereas an alert and well-rested truck driver might have been able to avoid that accident. When a truck driver causes an accident because he or she is fatigued or speeding excessively, it is possible that he or she may not be the one liable for accident. In many situations, it is necessary to uncover the reason why the driver was exhausted and/or speeding in order to prove who is truly liable for the accident. Employers of truck drivers are well-known for implementing unrealistic schedules and unrealistic deadlines on their truckers. Many trucking companies have been known to persuade their truckers to break trucker regulations and provide false information on their time-log sheets so that they can work for longer periods of time, beyond what is allowed, in order to meet the extremely tight deadlines that they are facing. Were you involved in a truck accident with a fatigued or speeding trucker due to his or her unrealistic deadlines? Our attorneys can help! Contact our personal injury lawyers today. |