Driver Fatigue
Denver Attorneys: Injuries Caused by Truck Driver Fatigue
“Driver fatigue” is a term commonly used to describe the experience of being "sleepy" or "tired" while operating a motor vehicle. Fatigue is both a physiological and a psychological experience, and is the number one cause of truck accidents in the United States.
If you have ever stayed awake for an extended period of time, you understand how “fatigue” can impair your ability to think clearly and react to sudden emergencies. This fact is so well-known the Federal Government has placed limits on the amount of time semi-truck drivers are allowed to drive.
There are many reasons why truck drivers often exceed the federally mandated hours of service rules. Drivers are most often paid on a “per mile” basis. As a result, the more they drive, the more they earn. Adding to the problem are weather and traffic related delays. Due to these delays, truck drivers to often find themselves in a position where they are trying to make up for lost time.
Driver fatigue severely impairs judgment and can affect anyone. It is particularly dangerous because one of the side effects is a decreased ability to judge our own level of tiredness.
Other symptoms may include:
- Lack of Concentration
- Hallucinations
- Slower Reaction speed
- Difficulty Staying in Your Lane
- Nodding Off (actually falling asleep)
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, please call or email us today. The highly skilled attorneys of Fuicelli & Lee, PC are experts in handling semi-truck cases and are here to help.
Find out more about brake failure / faulty maintenance and drug and alcohol use , other common causes of truck accidents.
