What are the Dangers of Drowsy Driving For Truckers?

More than 11,000 truck accidents happened in North Carolina in 2014, according to the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles. Drowsy driving is a leading cause of truck crashes and caused a significant number of these accidents to occur.

Drowsy driving happens when a motorist becomes fatigued while operating a vehicle. Drowsy Driving.org warns more than 60 percent of adult drivers admit to fatigued driving. These adult drivers include professional truckers. A trucker shortage nationwide has resulted in truckers being pressured to drive for long hours. Many truckers work the maximum permitted number of daily or weekly hours, and some work longer than permitted in order to earn more money or satisfy employers.

Truck drivers are limited by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in the number of daily and weekly hours they are allowed to drive. Unfortunately, not all truckers follow rules aimed at drowsy driving prevention. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has mandated the installation of electronic logging devices in most large trucks beginning in December of 2017 to try to ensure truckers follow maximum drive-time rules in order to reduce fatigued driving.

If a trucker is fatigued while driving, the truck driver can be held accountable for any crashes resulting from drowsy driving. Because truckers are agents of their employers in most cases, trucking companies may also be held liable for losses caused by drowsy driving truck crashes.

Victims hurt by a fatigued trucker, or family members of victims killed by a drowsy driving truck accident, should consult with a Charlotte, NC truck accident lawyer for assistance in pursuing a claim for compensation.