Truck Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyers

Fatigued driving is a form of impaired driving – like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is because a lack of sleep significantly reduces a person’s ability to think clearly and stay focused. In fact, some studies say that missing enough sleep can cause the same level of impairment as a 0.08% BAC. In commercial motor vehicle drivers, fatigue may be due to a lack of adequate sleep, extended work hours, strenuous work, or even non-work activities. Being fatigued can cause a trucker to make errors in estimating the speed, distance, and intentions of other vehicles, have sleep-blurred vision, or fall asleep at the wheel.

How do you prove fatigue in a fatigue truck driver accident?

After a crash, fatigued truckers rarely want to admit they were driving drowsy. Whether the truck involved was a semi, tanker, double tractor-trailer truck, or another type of large vehicle, truck accident attorneys know how to conduct investigations that get to the bottom of what happened. To build a strong case, they may collect evidence like medical records, crash site reports and videos, drug and alcohol test results, phone records, federally regulated truck logs and data, black box recordings, wage receipts, witness statements, and expert testimony, among other things.

When a lack of sleep leads a truck driver to make a mistake, they are almost certainly at-fault in the accident. However, the trucker may not be the only party at fault and, therefore, liable in this type of crash. Other potentially liable parties in fatigued truck driver accidents include:

• Trucking company. The company that employs the driver may be at fault for not properly monitoring and limiting the hours the driver is allowed to work, or for not providing adequate training on the dangers of driving while fatigued.
• Driver. The driver themselves may be at fault for driving while fatigued or failing to take appropriate breaks and rest periods as required by law.
• Manufacturer or maintenance provider. If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure or issue with the truck, the company responsible for maintaining the vehicle could be at fault for failing to detect or repair the problem.

An experienced impaired truck driver accident lawyer can investigate the accident, determine what happened, collect evidence, file effective legal documents, and negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation.

Injured victims of truck accidents are typically entitled to collect financial compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages, among other damages. Therefore, under most circumstances, injured truck accident victims have a right to sue. It’s important to remember that there are legal deadlines that apply to lawsuits, which vary from state to state. That’s why it’s best to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.

Just about any type of injury can result from a fatigue truck driver accident, but some are more common than others. The following are injuries often associated with drowsy driver truck wrecks:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), concussion, brain hemorrhage.
• Neck fracture, disc injury, whiplash.
• Shoulder dislocation, rotator cuff injuries.
• Slipped or bulging discs in the lumbar, thoracic, or cervical vertebrae.
• Internal organ damage.

An experienced fatigue truck driver accident lawyer can work tirelessly to investigate the crash, build a strong case, and fight for victims' rights and interests. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a fatigue truck driver accident, contact a trusted truck accident attorney in your area today to schedule a free case consultation. They can answer your crash-related questions, help you navigate the legal process, and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Truck wreck lawyers work for a contingency fee. That means there is no upfront cost and if the lawyer doesn’t win, they don’t get paid. Don't wait to reach out – a statute of limitations applies to fatigue truck driver accidents. Contact an experienced truck accident attorney in your state to schedule a free case consultation now.