Flower Mound Fatigue Truck Accident Lawyer
Have you ever driven while tired? Getting behind the wheel when you haven’t had enough sleep is a common experience. Unfortunately, it’s also very dangerous. It’s estimated that driver fatigue contributes to one million car crashes each year. When fatigue causes a truck driver to have an accident, the results can be deadly.
Many fatigue-related truck accidents lead to property damage, severe injuries, or even fatalities. According to DrowsyDriving.org, there are over 71,000 injuries and 1550 deaths attributed to driver fatigue each year. Fatigue accidents also cause upwards of $12 billion in economic losses. However, the real numbers may be even higher. In some car and truck crash situations, it can be difficult to prove that fatigue played a role in the collision.
That’s why it’s important to have a lawyer on your side who understands fatigue accidents. If fatigue or drowsy driving may have contributed to your truck accident, contact our Flower Mound, TX law offices today. You may be owed compensation after a fatigue accident with a truck, which can help cover medical bills and other expenses from your accident.
Our truck accident lawyers can help you understand your rights. Call (469) 998-4069 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. If we don’t help you win, you won’t pay us a dime.
The Dangers of Truck Driving While Fatigued
Modern life is busy. Between jobs, school, family life, and other commitments, it often feels like there simply isn’t enough time in the day. Many people stay up later or wake up earlier to get it all done. Skipping sleep has become such a common practice that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 1 in 3 Americans are sleep-deprived.
While a cup of coffee or an energy drink may help in the short-term, there’s no substitute for proper sleep. Studies suggest that people who don’t regularly get 7-9 hours of sleep are at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and other health problems. It also negatively affects your ability to drive safely.
In fact, research shows that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving with a 0.08% blood alcohol level. Fatigued drivers have difficulty remaining alert. If there’s a hazard in the road, they may react too slowly to avoid it. Many fatigue accidents involving trucks lead to rear-end collisions because the tired trucker doesn’t stop in time.
Additionally, fatigue reduces a truck driver’s physical coordination. Even if the fatigued driver notices a problem, they may not be able to brake or steer around it. They may also over-correct and cause an accident. For example, a fatigued driver might unintentionally “jerk” their truck’s steering wheel if they see a car merging towards them. This can cause the fatigued driver to lose control of their truck and spin out or roll over, crashing into other cars.
Extreme fatigue among commercial truck drivers can also induce vision problems. A fatigued driver may collide with another vehicle because they experience difficulty focusing, double vision, or a related phenomenon known as “microsleeping.”
Microsleeping is one of the many reasons why fatigued driving leads to such severe car and truck accidents. Microsleeping occurs when a fatigued driver’s eyelids begin to droop uncontrollably. The driver may not fall completely asleep, but he or she nods off for a brief moment. It might not sound disastrous, but microsleeping can be just as catastrophic as losing full consciousness.
When a truck driver microsleeps, they can do significant damage. At 55 mph, the average truck travels approximately 80 feet in one second. This is more than enough distance to cause an accident. Additionally, microsleeping causes many accidents when the driver “snaps” awake. He or she may overcompensate and lose control of their truck.
How to Avoid a Fatigue Truck Accident
Most fatigue accidents involving trucks are preventable. The solution is quite simple: get more sleep! If you’re always groggy on your morning commute, go to bed an hour earlier. Truck drivers can also improve the quality of their sleep with the following changes:
- Cut back or eliminate caffeine and alcohol, especially close to bedtime
- Try to avoid using screens close to bedtime
- Use blinds or heavy curtains to darken your bedroom as much as possible
- Set a consistent schedule so you wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends
- Don’t hit “snooze” in the morning, as this resets your body’s sleep schedule and makes it harder to wake up
Fatigue accidents can occur at any time of day, under any circumstances. However, they are more likely to occur very early in the morning or very late at night. The risk of a fatigue accident also increases in situations where people are driving for longer periods than usual, such as road trips.
If you’re taking a road trip, avoid fatigue accidents with trucks by planning regular stops along your route. If possible, travel with a companion and drive in shifts. Know your limits and don’t push past them. Even if you fall behind schedule, it’s always better to stop and rest than risk a fatigue accident.
What to Do if You Become Fatigued While Driving
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we still become fatigued while driving. If this happens, pull over once it’s safe and rest until you feel more awake. If you’re suffering from real exhaustion, find a motel where you can sleep.
If you can’t stop to rest, try driving with your windows rolled down, blast loud music, or use a hands-free device to call someone. You may also be able to re-energize yourself if you get out of the car and do some jumping jacks or jog in place. However, if you are experiencing microsleep or other problems operating your vehicle safely, do not continue driving. It’s not worth the risk of a truck accident.
Legal Assistance for Fatigue Truck Accidents
For legal assistance with fatigue accidents involving trucks, call our Flower Mound, TX law offices today and schedule a free appointment. Consultations are 100% free and confidential. Dial (469) 998-4069 now. Our truck accident lawyers can help.
Remember, you have rights after a fatigue accident involving a truck. Our lawyers can help determine liability, compensation, and plan your next steps. We are ready to help. Call us today.
