The impact of a serious truck accident can be devastating. Behind the scenes of a fatal truck crash, there’s often a hidden culprit: driver fatigue. Long hours on the road, tight deadlines and inadequate rest can push truckers to exhaustion, impairing their judgment and reaction time.
If you sustained a severe injury in a truck accident, you know the trauma and uncertainty that follows. This blog explores the dangerous reality of trucker fatigue, how it can lead to fatal accidents and what you can do to seek justice if you’ve been affected by this tragedy.
The dangers of trucker fatigue
Being awake for many hours contributes to driver fatigue at work. Poor sleep quality over multiple days is common among truck drivers who face tight schedules and deadlines.
Some drivers also set off well into the night, which contributes to fatigue. The body has a sleep and wake cycle that dictates when to be alert and when it is time to rest. If a driver sets off at times when they are usually asleep, they may be slow to react to urgent road emergencies.
An interplay of factors can contribute to driver fatigue. Some common indicators of this condition include:
- Lapses in consciousness: Dozing off or experiencing microsleeps while behind the wheel, which can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
- Impaired reaction time: A slowing down of response times, making it more difficult to react to unexpected events or changes in traffic.
- Visual neglect: Failing to monitor peripheral vision or experiencing tunnel vision, which can lead to missed warning signs, pedestrians or other vehicles.
- Memory lapses: Forgetting the events of the past few miles, including traffic signals, turns or other critical driving tasks.
Stopping to have a 15- to 30-minute nap may help reduce the risk of getting in an accident due to fatigue. However, the effect of a quick nap will only be temporary. A driver needs eight hours of high-quality sleep to alleviate tiredness completely.
How a lawyer can help
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it’s essential to understand how the accident occurred. By exploring the circumstances surrounding the crash, you may hold the responsible parties accountable. An experienced attorney can help guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries.
