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.
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