Latest Blogs

Fatigue is among the most common driver-related causes of commercial truck accidents. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 1 in 10 commercial truck accidents involve truck driver fatigue. When fatigued truck drivers cause serious and fatal accidents in Florida, victims and their families have clear legal rights, and hiring an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney with Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.is the first step toward seeking accountability.

There are several reasons why fatigue is such a common factor in serious and fatal truck accidents. For accident victims and their families, understanding and proving the effects of fatigue is essential for seeking the financial compensation they deserve.

Why Are So Many Truck Drivers Fatigued?

So, why are so many truck drivers fatigued? The simple answer is that many truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel. While federal regulations limit the number of hours that truckers can spend driving, these regulations still allow for long shifts on a daily basis, and not all truck drivers and trucking companies follow the law.

Also, driving is both physically and mentally taxing. This is especially true of driving a large commercial truck. When you combine the fact that driving makes you tired with the fact that many truckers drive through the night and do not get enough sleep, it is not hard to see why fatigue is such a common issue within the commercial trucking industry.

How Does Fatigue Cause (or Contribute to Causing) Serious and Fatal Truck Accidents?

Fatigue can cause (or contribute to causing) serious and fatal truck accidents in various ways. Studies have shown that the effects of fatigue are similar to those of moderate alcohol impairment, and this means that fatigue impacts truck drivers in three key areas:

• Physical Impairment – Fatigue increases truck drivers’ reaction times, making it more difficult for them to respond to sudden emergencies and stop or swerve in time to avoid a collision.
• Visual Impairment – Fatigue reduces truck drivers’ field of vision, particularly their peripheral vision. This makes them less able to spot other vehicles and identify hazards in the roadway.
• Cognitive Impairment – Fatigue also impairs truck drivers’ ability to make split-second decisions when they need to act quickly to avoid a collision.

Taken together, these effects of fatigue can significantly increase truck drivers’ risk of causing collisions that should have been avoided. Even if fatigue is not solely to blame (i.e., if a truck driver failed to respond appropriately to a tire blowout or brake failure), if fatigue plays a role in a serious or fatal truck accident, it can provide clear grounds for victims and their loved ones to seek just compensation under Florida law.

What Types of Truck Accidents Result from Truck Driver Fatigue?

Fatigue can be a factor in all types of commercial truck accidents. Any time a truck driver does not have full control of his or her faculties, the truck driver is at greater risk of causing a collision—and the truck driver can (and should) be held accountable if a collision occurs.

With that said, certain types of truck accidents are particularly likely to result from truck driver fatigue or other driver impairments. These include dangerous accidents such as:

Rear-End Collisions

Fatigued truck drivers can cause rear-end collisions due to a combination of the impairments listed above. With that said, if a truck driver does not recognize that traffic is slowing or is unable to apply the brakes in time, this alone could constitute clear grounds for liability.

Head-On Collisions

In many cases, head-on collisions occur when a driver is dozing off or asleep behind the wheel. If the driver who hit you or your loved one head-on was not awake or was not alert enough to drive safely, this should provide clear grounds for liability as well.

T-Bone Collisions

While running red lights and stop signs can be indicative of various forms of truck driver negligence, in many cases, it is indicative of truck driver fatigue. If you or your loved one got T-boned in an intersection by a fatigued truck driver, you should talk to a Fort Myers accident attorney at Spivey Law Firm about filing a claim for financial compensation.

Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents can also indicate truck driver fatigue. If a truck driver forgot to check his or her blind spots or failed to see an approaching vehicle because he or she was fatigued, this is another scenario in which the truck driver can generally (and should) be held accountable.

Jackknifes and Rollovers

When truck drivers have delayed reactions due to fatigue, they often overreact once they process what is happening. If a truck driver overreacts by swerving sharply or slamming on the brakes, this can lead to a jackknife or rollover—both of which can be extremely dangerous for other motorists.

How Can Victims and Family Members Prove that a Truck Driver was Fatigued?

Let us say you have a claim related to a serious or fatal truck accident in which driver fatigue was a factor. How do you prove it?

Like all causes of serious and fatal truck accidents, proving that a truck driver was fatigued requires a prompt and thorough investigation. While various forms of evidence may be available, it is critical to preserve this evidence before it disappears. Once you hire an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney with Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to represent you, your attorney will be able to get to work right away seeking to collect the evidence needed to fight for the financial compensation you and your family deserve.

Learn More from an Experienced Fort Myers Accident Attorney at Spivey Law Firm

If you need to know more about filing a claim after a serious or fatal truck accident in which you suspect driver fatigue was a factor, we encourage you to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. promptly. To speak with an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney in confidence, call us for a free consultation at 239-337-7483 or toll-free at 888-4777-4839 or request a free consultation online at Spiveylaw.com today.