Truck drivers often pass through Indiana due to its central location as a gateway to the Midwest. However, these drivers may be working long shifts and not be at their best despite federal rules that keep them from driving for too long. Here is how trucker fatigue contributes to accidents.
Fatigued Drivers Can Be the Result of Many Things
If a trucker does not get enough sleep and rest, they can get drowsy behind the wheel. This will slow their reaction times and decrease the amount of attention they pay on the road. Besides just working too long, a number of things can contribute to driver fatigue. The driver might simply not be feeling well that day, or they could be on medication that makes them drowsy. They may be working difficult shifts that involve them driving during hours when they might otherwise be sleeping.
This is the Same as Drinking and Driving
Fatigued driving can be every bit as bad as drunk driving. If a driver has not slept for 24 hours, it is the same as if their blood alcohol level were 0.10. When driving a vehicle as large as a truck, drivers need to be at a heightened state of attention at all times in order to make the swift decisions necessary to keep other drivers on the road safe. Fatigued drivers’ reflexes are dulled to the point where they stand a greater chance of causing an accident that can critically injure another driver and their passengers.
Truck accident injuries tend to be severe due to the large size of the trucks involved. This means that getting the settlement negotiation right is even more important. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you deal with the insurance company as you work toward settling your case. If you cannot reach an agreement with the insurance company, the attorney might file a lawsuit in court on your behalf.
