Fatigued Truck Drivers

San Antonio attorney with the skills to hold the trucking industry liable for negligence

State and federal regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver can drive without a rest break. Drivers are required to keep log books of driving hours in order to keep them from becoming fatigued and causing accidents. Despite these regulations, there were 6,447 injuries and 370 fatalities in crashes involving large trucks in Texas in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

With more than 25 years of personal injury experience, our San Antonio attorney at The Bates Law Firm has the skill which may help victims recover compensation after an accident. When drivers negligently drive when drowsy, or trucking companies fail to train truck drivers or enforce safety regulations that could prevent fatigued driving accidents, our firm provides strong representation to get results.

Driver fatigue affects alertness

According to the Federal Highway Administration, driver fatigue is a major problem throughout the United States:

  • Drivers are eight times more likely to be driving while drowsy between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • Truck drivers only sleep an average of five hours during their main sleep period, two hours less than the ideal of more than seven hours
  • Drivers are not good at assessing their own alertness

Causes of trucker fatigue

There are several causes of truck driver drowsiness, many which could easily be avoided:

  • Sleep loss
  • Driving patterns and work schedules, including overnight driving
  • Safety regulation violations
  • Sedating medications
  • Untreated sleep disorders
  • Monotonous road and driving conditions
  • Fatigue worsened or caused by drug use

Holding truckers and trucking companies liable for negligent, reckless and wrongful acts

While regulations try to prevent truckers from driving when tired, including such requirements as multiple breaks during the night, drivers often fail to follow the rules because of inadequate training or other motivating factors. For example, truck drivers who are paid according to the number of miles they drive have an incentive to drive more and rest less. Trucking companies worsen the problem by failing to train drivers or failing to enforce safety regulations through measures such as reviewing log books and penalizing drivers for violations. Some companies even promote unsafe practices in order to increase productivity.

At The Bates Law Firm, our personal injury lawyer works tirelessly to hold drivers and trucking companies responsible when negligence causes injuries or fatalities. Although commercial trucking is essential to our economy, no one should have to face injuries or the loss of a loved one because of truck driver fatigue that could - and should - be avoided.

Seek the help of truck accident lawyers who are dedicated to getting results

The Bates Law Firm in San Antonio is committed to helping clients throughout South Texas obtain compensation for accidents - no matter how long it takes. To schedule a free initial consultation with our board-certified lawyer, contact us online or call 210-241-5437,.