Commercial trucks are considerably heavier and bigger than almost anything else on the roads. When trucks get into accidents with smaller vehicles, they can crush cars and cause immense damage. Truck drivers have a duty to drive responsibly to prevent such collisions. Unfortunately, sometimes truck drivers sacrifice safety by pushing themselves to drive for longer than they should, which can lead to fatigued truck drivers in Bloomfield causing serious accidents.
If you believe a truck driver caused a crash because they were overly tired, you might have cause to file a lawsuit. A well-versed local truck accident attorney from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC can meet with you to review what happened.
How Sleep Deprivation Can Impair Driving
Being overly tired can affect a driver both physically and mentally, similarly to the way that drinking alcohol or using drugs can impair a driver. What is particularly scary is that drivers might not know how impaired they are by their fatigue because some of the symptoms can gradually sneak up on them. Drivers who are tired might be more forgetful and distracted. They might also be more anxious. Cognitively, they might not be thinking as clearly as they should be. Even if they see something that should put them on alert, such as a child darting into the road or the car in front of them slowing down, their mind might not be able to process what it means or what they should do.
In addition, being tired might affect their manual ability to operate a vehicle. Their movements might be slower, or they might try to overcompensate by turning the wheel or slamming the brakes too quickly. While fatigue can negatively affect any driver, when truck drivers are fatigued, the consequences are much more likely to be life-threatening or even fatal.
Our diligent legal team can investigate a Bloomfield drowsy driving truck crash to see if driver fatigue played a role. Although it might be challenging to prove that a truck driver was tired, the attorneys can help by carefully examining the truck driver’s log to see how many hours they drove. They can also look at the police report, speak to eyewitnesses, and visit the crash scene to look for evidence, such as a lack of skid marks, which might help prove that the driver fell asleep behind the wheel.
Potentially Liable Parties in a Fatigued Trucker Accident in Bloomfield
Truck drivers work for long hours without breaks, usually by themselves, which can make them prone to fatigue. If their exhaustion causes them to crash, the truck driver would generally be liable for the accident. However, their employer might also be responsible for the accident because employers are vicariously responsible for the negligent actions of their employees. In addition, the trucking company that employed the driver might also be responsible for their own actions, particularly if they explicitly or implicitly encouraged drivers to violate federally mandated driving time restrictions. For instance, a trucking company could be responsible if they set unreasonable expectations for delivery times.
Our knowledgeable Bloomfield legal team understands how to interpret company manuals and driver’s logs to see if the trucking company played a role in causing the fatigue that led to a crash.
Contact a Bloomfield Attorney About Fatigued Truck Wrecks
Fatigued truck drivers in Bloomfield accidents can cause devastating injuries that could and should have been prevented. Truck drivers who get behind the wheel while overly tired and the companies that condone such practices should be held accountable for their negligence.
Contact a dedicated legal team who will fight aggressively on your behalf for justice and reasonable compensation. The legal team at Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC has access to the resources of a big firm but will give you the attention of a small firm. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help.
