Summary
Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles crisscross the nation’s highways every day. While most commercial truck drivers take their responsibilities seriously, there can be a lot of pressure on drivers to improve their numbers. Some resort to unsafe practices, like driving long hours without rest–and the consequences can be deadly.
If you’ve been involved in a large truck accident caused by driver fatigue, you may be dealing with significant pain, suffering, and financial burdens. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the team of Boca Raton truck driver fatigue attorneys at Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia.
We have considerable experience in truck driver fatigue cases, and we want to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at 561-320-8285 or contact us online to get started.
Driving under significant fatigue can be as dangerous as drunk driving. When the driver is in control of a commercial truck, that becomes an extremely dangerous situation with the potential to cause catastrophic harm. Truck accident statistics consistently cite drowsiness as a leading cause of collisions.
Driver fatigue affects reaction times, awareness of hazards, and the ability to sustain attention on the road. According to the landmark Large Truck Crash Causation Study, driver fatigue was a contributing factor in at least 13 percent of all commercial truck crashes.
Unfortunately, many professional truck drivers are pressured to increase profits for their employers with unreasonable expectations of transit times, leading drivers to stay on the road far longer than is safe or engage in risky behaviors like speeding.
Commercial truck drivers are required to follow a number of federal regulations designed to combat trucker fatigue. For example:
To make sure these regulations are followed, truck drivers are required to maintain a log of their time, which is inspected by their employer for accuracy. Many commercial trucks also include electronic monitoring devices to ensure that safe driving practices are followed.
There may be additional rules from the state, and some exceptions may apply. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you understand what state regulations may have been broken in your accident.
Commercial trucks are enormous, high-mass vehicles, weighing from around 35,000 pounds unloaded to a legal maximum of 80,000 pounds fully loaded. Compare that to the average weight of a car–around 4,000 pounds–and you can get a sense of the unique damage that large trucks can cause.
The sheer size of these vehicles means that collisions involving commercial trucks generate tremendous force, putting any smaller passenger vehicles in their way at extreme risk. Common truck accident injuries include:
Other potential injuries include burns, lacerations, and whiplash injuries. Seek medical attention right away after any collision involving a large truck, even if you believe your truck accident injuries are minor or you feel okay.
It’s entirely possible you have injuries you’re not cognizant of in the moment because accident scenes are typically chaotic. Your medical records will be a useful paper trail showing you sought to mitigate your damages if you need to file a truck accident claim for compensation.
The potentially catastrophic damage of a large truck accident caused by driver fatigue can be highly disruptive to the lives of victims. These damages put victims under physical, mental, and financial strains that deserve fair compensation.
Due to the likelihood that a truck driver fatigue accident victim will have considerable damages, filing a personal injury lawsuit will likely be necessary to recuperate the full value of those costs. Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for damages such as:
A truck driver fatigue lawyer is the most suitable person to assess the monetary value of your economic and non-economic damages.
A neighborhood fender bender doesn’t always need legal help. However, if you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck caused by driver fatigue, the situation can be much more complicated. Suddenly you’re dealing with much greater damages, shipping companies, federal trucking regulations, and more.
An experienced truck driver fatigue lawyer can be an invaluable ally in your fight for fair treatment. Your fatigued driver truck accident attorney can help by:
The aftermath of a large truck accident caused by a fatigued driver is more than anyone should have to deal with on their own. Your lawyer can help you successfully navigate the legal system and secure fair compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered from an accident caused by truck driver fatigue, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial pressure you face. You deserve compensation for your damages, but the legal system is complicated, and trucking companies and their insurance providers can be daunting obstacles.
As personal injury lawyers, our team at Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia has seen a wide variety of truck accident cases. We are equipped to deal with the complications that often arise in these types of claims, such as third-party liability. Reach out to the team at Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia for a free consultation. You can contact us online or call us at 561-320-8285.
Truck accidents have the potential to inflict catastrophic and even fatal injuries. The survivors of deceased truck accident victims may be able to recover compensation for damages such as:
The estate of the deceased can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family. To see if you qualify to file a Florida wrongful death lawsuit, get in touch with an experienced truck accident lawyer.
While truck driver fatigue is often a contributing factor in collisions involving these large commercial vehicles, other issues can cause devastating truck accidents. For example:
Commercial trucks tend to have less maneuverability, and their weight distribution puts them at risk of losing control or even overturning. These factors can result in several kinds of truck accidents, such as:
