Driver Fatigue

Sleep Deprivation as a Cause of Truck Accidents

A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) report revealed that driver fatigue was the primary factor in 13 percent of semi truck accidents. Fatigue makes a trucker less able to cope with things such as bad weather, construction zones, heavy traffic or bad road design.

A law firm that can diagnose driver fatigue in a truck accident.

At the Carmel, Indiana, law firm of Wagner Reese & Crossen, we have the ability to determine if driver fatigue was the cause of an accident. Our legal team includes Chuck Stratis, a former risk manager for a large trucking company. With the help of Chuck’s experience, our attorneys can uncover the signs of driver fatigue even when the trucking company tries to hide them. If you’ve been injured in a semi truck accident, contact a law firm with insider knowledge that benefits clients. Call us at 800-792-0332 for a free initial consultation.

How we investigate truck driver fatigue

We review the driving logbooks and bills of lading, looking for evidence of violation of the hours of service regulations that limit the number of hours a trucker can drive. We chart the driver’s movements and travels over the previous seven days. We review weather reports to see if severe weather was present and a factor in the driver’s fatigue. We depose witnesses and trucking company employees to learn whether driving while fatigued or otherwise impaired was the unwritten policy of the company.

Truck driver fatigue is a by-product of how truckers are paid

Truck drivers have every incentive to ignore the FMCSA rules that limit their driving time. Since professional truck drivers are paid by the mile, they make more money if they arrive and unload quickly and get back on the road with another load. When they do this and are tired as a result, ordinary occurrences on the highway can turn into hazards and dangers. Fog, ice, rain and snow can make a tired trucker even sleepier.

If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, contact lawyers who the trucking industry and can determine whether truck driver fatigue played a role in the crash. Call the Indiana personal injury law firm of Wagner Reese & Crossen to schedule a free initial consultation to learn how we can help.

An Indiana law firm with a national trucking accident practice