Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of
car accidents. When a driver is tired, it makes it much more difficult to notice hazards
and respond promptly. Falling asleep at the wheel is a significant risk
as well, and can cause a driver to completely lose control of their vehicle.
It’s possible that driver fatigue is a cause of your collision. Proving
that driver fatigue (and therefore driver negligence) caused your car
accident may seem difficult. However, there are methods that can be used
to identify driver fatigue in car accident claims.
Fatigued driving can be identified by behaviors such as drifting and swerving
between lanes, driving too slowly, and failing to brake quickly or respond
to hazards. All of these behaviors can be very dangerous on the road and
can be used to identify another driver’s fault in a car accident
claim. In these cases, you may be entitled to additional compensation
from the fatigued driver.
Fatigued Driving and Truck Accidents
While driver fatigue can be dangerous in any situation, it is especially
hazardous if a truck driver gets sleepy at the wheel. Truck drivers are
generally more at risk for becoming fatigued as well. They spend long
hours driving, with minimal breaks. Fatigued driving is a common cause of
truck accidents and contributes to a significant number of injuries every year.
To limit truckers’ time spent driving, the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) established hours of service regulations.
Under these regulations, truckers are only permitted to drive for a total
of 11 hours each day after being off duty for 10 consecutive hours. After
the 14th hour on duty, truckers must stop driving. Truckers are also required
to take periodic breaks when needed. To ensure compliance with these regulations,
truckers must keep records of their time spent driving. Any records of
a violation or data that indicates longer hours spent driving (such as
from a GPS) could be evidence of fatigued driving and identify fault in
a truck accident case. The truck driver and their employer can be held
liable for your injury-related damages.
Attorney David F. Paulsen leads Paulsen Law Group and assists injury victims
from throughout the Tampa Bay area. If you have been injured because of
another person’s negligence, contact our firm today.
To schedule a free consultation with our attorney, complete our
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