Texas 18 Wheeler Accident Caused by Truck Driver Fatigue

Fatigued drivers are a hazard to everyone on the road. The National Sleep Foundation has found that fatigued drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers. If a driver has 24 hours of sleep deprivation, they display the same level of impairment as a drunk driver with a BAC of 0.10%, which, at that level, is above the Texas legal limit. When it comes to 18 wheeler drivers in Andrews, Texas, the danger is only exacerbated. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a Texas 18 wheeler accident caused by truck driver fatigue, you need someone to help you fight to make this right. Our staff at Carabin Shaw is a team of experts in the legal field who know what it takes to beat trucking companies and their insurers to get you what you deserve. A Texas truck accident attorney can help you and your family get justice in this difficult time.

Truckers work long, exhausting hours and are constantly pressured to meet delivery deadlines, which often forces them to drive longer than they should. It’s no wonder then that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 40% of all trucking accidents are caused by fatigued truck drivers. Speak with an Andrews 18 wheeler accident lawyer to learn more.

Sadly, more than 750 people die and over 20,000 are injured every year in the United States because of truck driver fatigue. Below are a few factors that contribute to trucker fatigue:

• Number of sleep-deprived hours - Trucking requires drivers to stay awake for extended periods of time. If a driver has been awake for more than 18 hours straight, they pose the same threat to other drivers on the road as a drunk driver. A lawyer can explain further.
• Sleep disorders - If a trucker has sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, it can increase fatigue on the road. Studies have shown that truckers with sleep apnea are twice as likely to get into a wreck compared to those without it.
• Time of day - Some truckers prefer to drive at night because there are less cars on the road, but research has found that fatigue-related accidents increase greatly between the hours of 12 am and 6 am. If your accident happened between these hours, consult an attorney.

To prove truck driver fatigue, your lawyer needs to examine a variety of factors. The first thing your Texas truck accident attorney should scrutinize is the truck driver’s logs to determine if he was in compliance with the Hours of Service Rule. Your Andrews injury lawyer should interview the truck driver, asking questions about the driver’s sleeping habits, amount of sleep on the night of the accident, and any substances they use to stay awake while they drive.

Your attorney should also investigate the company’s guidelines to see if they may have contributed to driver fatigue. If the company’s policies may have played a role, your Andrews 18 wheeler accident lawyer could find the company liable for your damages. If you were involved in a Texas 18 wheeler accident caused by truck driver fatigue, legal counsel could help you recover what you are rightfully owed.

Every kind of accident is tragic, but one caused by fatigue is especially painful because you know it could have been avoided. If you or a loved one was injured in an 18 wheeler accident in Andrews, Texas, you deserve proper justice. Our team at Carabin Shaw can help you win the compensation rightfully owed to you. If you need an Andrews injury lawyer, know that our firm has won over $500 million for our clients, and we never represent trucking companies—only people like you. Call us for a free consultation, and speak with a Texas truck accident attorney at our firm today at 432-620-0544.