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Fatigue and Trucking Don’t Mix

On Behalf of | Oct 10, 2019 | Truck Accidents

Trucker fatigue is a significant problem on the highways and city streets around the country. These individuals often work long hours to ensure that their cargo makes it from the starting point to the final destination. Some of these loads are time sensitive, so they can’t be delayed. This often results in many miles traversed each shift.

Many individuals don’t realize that truckers who are fatigued aren’t always running on lack of sleep. There are many other causes that can lead to this issue. For example, having to drive in a hot and stuffy truck can do it, so truckers who don’t have suitable climate control systems in their rigs are at risk of this.

Monotonous driving, wet weather and driving on roads that are familiar can also lead to trucker fatigue. Highway hypnosis is also possible. This usually occurs when they are driving during the overnight hours when most humans are sleeping because it impacts the circadian rhythm.

Some truckers have to do other physical labor, which can also lead to fatigue. If they are forced to load and unload the truck before they drive, the exertion they face could negatively impact their ability to drive safely. This is one reason why nondriving hours are addressed in regulations that outline how long these truckers can drive.

Individuals who are struck by a trucker who was suffering from fatigue might need to determine the underlying cause of the fatigue. This could help them in their claim for compensation since it enables them to show negligence. These claims seek to recover damages for medical bills and other expenses that are directly related to the injuries caused by the crash.

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