If you have ever stayed awake for an extended period of time, you know how a lack of sleep impairs your ability to think clearly and react to sudden emergencies. This fact is so well known and understood, the Federal Government has placed limits on the amount of time semi-truck drivers are allowed to drive. These rules and regulations are discussed in detail on our “rules and regulations page.”
There are many reasons why semi-truck drivers often exceed the federally mandated hours of service rules. Semi-truck drivers are usually paid on a “per mile” basis. Thus, the more they drive, the more they earn. Also, due to weather and traffic related delays, semi-truck drivers often find themselves in a position where they are trying to make up for lost time. Many times a truck driver is trying to meet a deadline as to when his or her load has to arrive.
Whatever the reasons, “driver fatigue” is all too common in the semi-trucking industry. Generally speaking, “driver fatigue” is a term commonly used to describe the experience of being “sleepy”, “tired” or “exhausted” while operating a motor vehicle. Fatigue is both a physiological and a psychological experience, and is the number one cause of truck accidents in the United States.
Driver fatigue can severely impair judgment and can affect anyone. It is particularly dangerous because one of the symptoms is decreased ability to judge our own level of tiredness. Other symptoms vary between drivers, but may include:
- Poor Concentration
- Tired or Sore Eyes
- Hallucinations
- Drowsiness
- Slow Reaction speed
- Missing Road Signs and exits
- Difficulty Staying in Proper Lane
If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-trucking case, please call or email us today. The highly skilled attorneys of the Kaudy Law Firm are experts in handling semi-truck cases and are here to help.
| Trucking Accidents |
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 Driver Fatigue |
| Brake Failure |
| Alcohol & Drug Usage |
| Overloaded Trucks |