Driver Fatigue a Leading Cause of Truck Accidents
Posted February 20th, 2014 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Auto Accidents.
A recent article in The Lawyer’s LogBook magazine reported that fatigue, along with faulty brakes, is the most common cause of crashes involving semi trucks. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, Newark attorney Anthony Carbone can gather evidence on your behalf and take aggressive action against the responsible parties.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has adopted extensive regulations governing many different aspects of the trucking industry, including hours of service. Tractor trailer operators are limited to a 70-hour work week and permitted to spend no more than 11 hours driving each day.
Fatigue can compromise the physical and mental aspects of driving performance for truckers just like it can for drivers of passenger vehicles. The sheer weight of semis, however, can make a truck accident caused by fatigue all the more severe.
A fatigued truck driver might exhibit the following behavior:
- Failure to observe signs and traffic lights
- Erratic driving, such as drifting between lanes
- Poor regulation of speed
- Not adjusting to traffic or road conditions smoothly or safely
- Delayed reaction time during actions like braking
Instances of truck accidents involving fatigue can often be traced to the unrealistic schedules trucking companies try to maintain in order to transport freight quickly. If the trucking company disregarded safety, Mr. Carbone can pursue a claim against both the truck driver and his or her employer for compensation for your injuries.
To learn more about how our Newark truck accident attorney can help you build your case, please contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, P.C., or call 201-963-6000 today to schedule your free initial consultation.
