All drivers should be awake and alert while on the road. The drivers of big rigs should pay extra attention due to the size and weight of their vehicles. If the driver of a semi is fatigued or impaired, they risk causing a catastrophic accident. Federal and state regulations have a zero-tolerance policy for impaired or distracted truck drivers.
If you believe you were involved in a truck accident because the other driver was tired or impaired, a skilled truck wreck injury attorney from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC can help you understand your legal options. Our legal team has worked on cases involving fatigued driver truck accidents in Paramus and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
How Does Fatigue Affect Truck Drivers?
Studies by the Centers for Disease Control have found that being awake for too long can produce effects similar to intoxication. Lack of sleep also impairs a person’s decision-making abilities and judgment, so they may not realize how tired they are.
For a trucker driving a fully loaded rig in Paramus, this drowsy state of mind can lead to serious collisions. Fatigue can affect physical ability, and slower hand-eye coordination can reduce a driver’s ability to see a hazard and brake in time to avoid it. Fatigue may also cause a driver to overlook mechanical issues with the truck, leading to future accidents.
Proving Liability in Fatigued Driving Cases
Anyone can be tired after a day’s driving, and proving that fatigue caused an accident can be difficult. When reviewing a Paramus collision, our attorneys begin with data, such as the trucker’s log or electronic logging device, which details the distance driven, the driver’s last stop, and whether they took the federally required break periods to prevent fatigue.
The U.S. Department of Transportation requires commercial drivers to take a 30-minute break every eight hours and an eight-hour break every 14 hours. They cannot work more than 70 hours in any continuous eight-day period. The electronic logging device indicates if the driver exceeded these requirements.
Other factors may influence a case, such as the presence of two drivers or the existence of a sleepover cab. Some companies may instruct drivers to put a ghost driver on their log, drive more hours than legally allowed, and keep unreasonable schedules by threatening termination if they fall behind.
Your attorney can consider all these factors when assembling the evidence to support your insurance claim. If multiple parties are responsible for the accident, you deserve compensation from all of them.
Contact Our Paramus Attorneys if a Fatigued Truck Driver Caused Your Crash
Despite trucking companies’ general liability for crashes, tired drivers are often more responsible than people realize. If you sustained an injury due to a fatigued driver truck accident in Paramus, you deserve fair compensation. Schedule a free initial consultation with our legal team at Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC today for advice on starting your legal claim.
