Many Tractor-Trailer Wrecks Caused by Driver Fatigue
By Rick Shapiro, Truck Accident Lawyer in Virginia
On June 15, a truck accident occurred on I-64 in Virginia (VA). The only vehicle involved was a tractor-trailer rig. Officers were able to determine, however, that the driver fell asleep at the wheel and this is what caused the truck wreck.
Driver fatigue is often a cause of wrecks involving tractor-trailer rigs. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 750 people are killed and 20,000 more people are seriously injured each year in the U.S. due directly to tired and drowsy commercial truck drivers, according to saferoads.org.
In addressing this issue, there are federal and state mandates that limit the number of hours a driver can remain on the road before he or she must (or is supposed to) stop for a number of hours to rest. Unfortunately, these mandates are routinely ignored.
Load delivery deadlines and a need or desire by the driver to make more money (especially if he is paid by the load) are just some of the reasons why some tractor-trailer drivers do not make scheduled stops as they are supposed to. Others may stop, but not for as long as they should.
Drivers routinely deny falling asleep at the wheel and their travel logs may not give correct information. When this occurs, police officers sometimes have to rely on physical evidence such as skid marks or they may have to ask those who were involved or who witnessed the truck wreck if they believed driver fatigue may have been the reason for the accident. Sometimes, the tractor-trailer driver will admit that he was feeling drowsy, but this is rare.
You can learn about the different methods used to determine truck driver fatigue and what you should do in case you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck by reading our free consumer report. If you still have questions, you can follow the link to frequently asked questions about truck accidents.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.
PA
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June 22, 2010
Tags: accidents, attorney, car accident, crashes, driver, I-64, personal injury, tractor trailer, VA, wrecks Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics
One Response
Yes due to tight delivery schedule many drivers try to refrain the breaks which they should take at nominal intervals. Tiredness among the drivers also causes accidents to take place. Proper presence of mind while driving can reduce such incidents.
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