Truck drivers may find themselves battling fatigue while behind the wheel. Tiredness can do more than cause a driver to run late. The physical and mental effects of fatigue might result in an accident. Accident prevention fueled the enactment of state and federal laws that require drivers to take breaks. However, Indiana drivers may still feel excessively tired even when following the rules about breaks.
Truck driver fatigue
Refusing to follow the rules regarding mandatory breaks could leave drivers and their employers in legal trouble. If a trucking company falsifies records about breaks, the company may face lawsuits after an accident. Still, fatigue may result from not taking a vacation, driving at night, working split shifts and other reasons.
A truck driver could suffer from fatigue because he or she is battling a cold or another illness. Medications, legal or otherwise, could cause tiredness. Outright intoxicated drivers could struggle to stay awake and operate their vehicles safely.
Legal troubles and tired drivers
Big rig accidents can happen when a truck driver’s perception and reaction times decrease because of fatigue. Such impairment could make a driver cause an accident or find it impossible to avoid a crash. The driver may commit a moving violation while too tired to drive. Regardless of the circumstances, a negligent driver could face civil and criminal complaints after causing a crash.
A lawsuit could seek substantial compensation if the trucking accident causes others to experience catastrophic injuries. The medical expenses and lost wages could be substantial. Some accidents may lead to fatalities and wrongful death lawsuits. Victims could sue above insurance policy limits to seek the sought-after award.
