Truck driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents in the U.S. despite the fact that federal hours-of-service regulations are in place to try to prevent truckers from driving when they are exhausted.
In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that truck driver fatigue plays a role in causing approximately 13 percent of all large commercial truck accidents that occur each year in the U.S. This makes trucker fatigue the 7th leading cause of these accidents (behind factors like driver intoxication, speeding and driver distraction).
At McLaughlin Law Firm, our Denver truck accident attorneys are skilled at proving when truck driver fatigue causes accidents.
What may be as disturbing as the fact that truck driver fatigue causes so many accidents is that this type of negligence is entirely preventable as long as truckers don’t violate hours-of-service regulations and are responsible enough to not operate commercial trucks when they are tired/haven’t had enough sleep.
Truck Driver Fatigue Statistics
The following truck driver fatigue statistics can elucidate how prevalent and serious the problem of driver fatigue is in the U.S. These statistics have been published by various credible agencies and organizations, including (but not limited to) the FMCSA, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- About 25 percent of truck drivers have admitted to falling asleep when driving commercial vehicles within the past month.
- On average, truck drivers report that they only sleep about 5 hours between driving shifts. Medical experts have reported that adults require between 7 and 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep in order to be rested.
- After sleeping for only 5 hours for two consecutive nights, truckers typically exhibit driving impairments.
- Hours-of-service regulations require truck drivers to stop operating trucks after having driven for 11 consecutive hours in a day. Additionally, they must have at least 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time between driving/on-duty shifts.
- Staying awake for 24 consecutive hours and then driving a truck causes impairments that are similar to driving with a blood alcohol content of approximately 0.10, which is 2.5 times the legal limit for commercial truckers.
The Denver Truck Accident Attorneys at McLaughlin Law Firm Will Fight for Your Rights
If you have been injured in a truck accident that may have been caused by trucker fatigue (or any type of truck driver negligence), the Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm are ready to defend your rights to compensation and justice. For more than 35 years, our trusted attorneys have been aggressive advocates for truck accident victims, and they are experienced at proving when truck driver fatigue had played a role in causing accidents.
When truck accident survivors – including families who may have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident – choose to work with us, they can count on us to:
- Be ready to confront insurers, corporate attorneys and others in any legal setting
- Help them build the strongest possible cases
- Provide them with the highest quality of legal services from the initial consult through the final disposition of their cases
- Work relentlessly to help them achieve the best possible outcomes to their case in the most efficient manner possible.
Contact Us to Set Up a Free Consult
To learn more about your rights and get a professional evaluation of your case, set up a free, no obligations initial consult with one of our experienced Denver truck accident attorneys. You can set up this meeting today by calling us at 720-420-9800 or by emailing us using the form on this page.
