Truck accidents are often caused by tired drivers
On any highway, at any time of day or night, you will find big trucks sharing the road with passenger size cars. Interstate hauling by 18-wheel tractor trailers is one of the main methods of transporting goods in the United States. However, these big trucks are also one of the leading causes of highway deaths. In many cases, truck accidents are caused by drivers who were too tired, but kept driving anyway to make their living.
One of the biggest factors that indirectly leads to truck accidents is the fact that most drivers are paid by the mile, not by the hour. This gives them a clear motivation to drive as much as they can, even when it is unsafe to do so. The current state of technology could allow for real time monitoring of trucks to identify when drivers have been on the road for too long, but truck companies prefer to look the other way.
Federal regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver is allowed to remain on the road, but little is done to enforce these rules. Many drivers keep two logbooks to track their hours, one for the company and another to show the police. The only real checks to protect people from tired drivers are visual observations made by inspectors working at weigh stations and police officers when they have justifiable cause to pull a driver over.
Earlier this year, our Maryland truck accident lawyers settled a wrongful death lawsuit where the truck driver was found to have been operating his vehicle for 19 hours over the 24 hours leading up to the truck. In falling snow, the driver travelled over 1,146 miles in one 24 hour period along Interstate-95.
When tired truck drivers start to nod off, drift from one lane to the other, or fail to be attentive to the roadway, the consequences can be devastating. The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential truck accident lawsuits for serious injuries or death throughout the United States. To review a claim, request a free consultation and case evaluation.
1 Comment • Add Your Comments
Doris Steele says:
Don’t overlook the way 4 wheelers drive dangerously, such as constantly darting directly in front of a big truck, pulling out in front of them when there is not enough time for them to speed up and get out of the way of the truck. These big trucks are pulling a mind boggling amount of weight; they can’t stop on a dime, like most cars or small vehicles. People need to be educated in this way so that they know these big trucks can’t stop right away when the small vehicles pullout so irresponsibly in front of them, or dart in front of them leaving them no room to allow for safety. As a member of a truck driving family, I speak with truth on this subject. Trust me, it’s not all the fault of the truck drivers. They are for the most part, very conscientious, professionally trained and expert drivers. Sincerely, Doris Steele
Posted on May 20, 2008 at 10:14 am