Driver Fatigue Accidents

When Truckers Push Past Their Limits, Everyone Pays the Price

Commercial truck drivers often spend long, exhausting hours on the road to meet strict delivery deadlines.    Federal regulations require trucking companies to limit how many hours drivers can work and to provide mandatory rest breaks.  These rules exist to prevent driver fatigue and keep everyone on the road safe.  

Unfortunately, some trucking companies cut corners and place profits over public safety.  When companies ignore hours-of-service rules, , drivers are more likely to become dangerously fatigued and cause accidents.  

Studies from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) show that truck driver fatigue contributes to about  13% of all large-truck crashes in the U.S. When truckers are pressured to drive beyond their legal limits,  sleep deprivation can quickly set in.  Fatigue slows reaction times,  impairs judgment, and can even cause a driver to fall asleep at the wheel. 

When an exhausted driver is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound commercial truck, the consequences can be devastating. In just a few seconds, fatigue can lead to life-altering crashes.  

At Rundio Injury Law, we hold negligent trucking companies and drivers accountable when fatigue leads to serious injuries or wrongful death.

What Are The Dangers of Fatigued Driving?

Driver fatigue can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Research shows that staying awake for 18 hours can impair a driver as much as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%.  After 24 hours without sleep, impairment can be comparable to a BAC of 0.10%, which is above the legal limit in most states.  

Fatigue-related truck accidents often involve: 

• Slower reaction times and delayed braking
• Drifting into other lanes or off the road
• Erratic and unpredictable driving
• Failing to reach to traffic changes, construction zones, land closures, or detours
• Rear-end collisions caused by not noticing slowed or stopped traffic Falling asleep at the wheel, leading to catastrophic crashes
  
  

What Are The Federal Hours-of-Service (HOS) Rules?

To try and prevent driver fatigue while on the clock, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets Hours-of-Service regulations. These are:

• 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• 14-hour workday limit before mandatory rest
• 30-minute break required after 8 hours of driving
• 60/70-hour weekly driving limit, depending on schedule

Despite these Federal HOS rules, some trucking companies don’t enforce them. Some companies even pressure their drivers to falsify logs to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines.

Holding Trucking Companies Accountable for Fatigued-Related Accidents

Trucking companies have a legal duty to ensure their drivers follow federal safety regulations.  When companies pressure drivers to exceed their hours-of-service limits or fail to monitor driver fatigue, they may be liable for serious truck accidents.  

At Rundio Injury Law, we investigate truck accidents thoroughly by reviewing: Driver logbooks Electronic logging device (ELD) data

• Dispatch records 
• Delivery schedules 
• Electronic Control Module (ECM) or black box data from the truck that records hours of operation and speeds
• GPS records to track route and hours driving
• Driver medical and employment records revealing a history of fatigue issues

What Are Common Injuries in Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents?

The size and weight of commercial trucks make fatigue-related crashes particularly devastating, often resulting in any of the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken bones and crush injuries
• Internal organ damage and bleeding
• Wrongful death
  
  

What Should You Do After a Suspected Fatigue-Related Truck Accident?

It can be very difficult to think straight after a truck accident, we get that. The one thing you need to remember is this: Safety comes first. If necessary, call 911.

1. Document the scene with photos and videos of vehicle damage and road conditions.
2. Collect witness information for statements about the driver’s behavior.
3. Contact Rundio Injury Law immediately so we can preserve electronic data and driver logs before they are altered or destroyed.

Rundio Injury Law: Fighting for Fatigue-Related Truck Accident Victims

Driver fatigue is preventable and trucking companies that put profits over safety must be held accountable. At Rundio Injury Law, we use decades of experience and cutting-edge investigative resources to uncover violations of federal regulations, preserve vital evidence, and fight for the full compensation our clients deserve.