A 2023 survey found that over one-third of Americans believe truck drivers are overworked. Unfortunately, these people are not wrong. Even with strict federal guidelines, the average trucker works between 11 and 14 hours daily, leading to a national spike in truck crashes and a greater need for truck accident lawyers.
California routinely records more trucking accidents than almost any other state, with over 13,000 annually. Overworked drivers are responsible for many.
If you were involved in one, speak with a semi-truck crash attorney to see whether you should consider taking legal action. Learn more about the potential dangers of overworked truckers, too, and find out how they could impact your case.
Understanding the Dangers of Overworked Truck Drivers
In recent years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposed no-nonsense guidelines to prevent truck drivers from being overworked. Here are several:
- Commercial drivers can only spend 14 hours on duty in a 24-hour period.
- They’re required to spend 10 hours off duty after reaching the 14-hour mark.
- They must take 30-minute breaks — included in their on-duty shifts — after every eight hours of driving.
Despite these regulations, many truckers still report feeling overworked. Some suffer from driver fatigue when on duty, which can be dangerous for them and other drivers.
These are the biggest dangers they face:
- Impaired judgment
- Slower-than-usual reaction times
- Higher risk of accidents
FMCSA studies suggest driver fatigue is to blame for about 13% of truck crashes, making it one of their leading causes.
How These Dangers Could Affect Your Truck Accident Case
The dangers of overworked truck drivers may impact more than just truckers. They could also affect you during an accident with one.
Those involved in accidents with fatigued truck drivers tend to suffer injuries on the more serious side. Examples include:
- Fractured bones
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic head injuries
If you sustain severe injuries in a truck accident, it could make your case complicated. Truck crashes are already more complex than other motor vehicle crashes, and when you add an overworked driver to the equation, it may muddy the waters more as a commercial vehicle injury lawyer determines liability and proves negligence.
The severity of the injuries you might suffer in an accident with an overworked driver could also make your case worth significantly more money. It’s another aspect to remember as you navigate the legal process with assistance from an experienced truck accident lawyer and attempt to collect compensation to cover medical bills and other expenses.
What a Truck Accident Lawyer Will Do To Help With Your Case
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, you should schedule a consultation with an 18-wheeler accident attorney to discuss your case. A reliable freight truck collision lawyer will evaluate the evidence related to your crash and determine what may have caused it.
If an attorney from a trucking accident law firm suspects driver fatigue may have caused it, they will also work on gathering evidence to prove this. They can establish a case against an overworked truck driver and/or the company that employs them by:
- Looking through a driver’s logbook
- Securing a copy of their work schedule
- Collecting statements from those who witnessed their collision
A big rig accident attorney can build a more compelling case by taking this approach.
Contact Us To Discuss Your Truck Accident Case With a Trusted Attorney
If you believe an overworked truck driver caused a crash you were involved in, talk to a truck accident lawyer from The Cifarelli Law Firm about it. We will tell you more about how driver fatigue may affect your case as it progresses. Call us at 949-409-6324 to set up a consultation.
