Bridgeport, CT Truck Accident Lawyers for Driver Fatigue

Attorneys Addressing Accidents Caused by Fatigued Truck Drivers in Bridgeport, Connecticut

Fatigue can be a serious issue for any driver. However, when truck drivers operate commercial vehicles while they are exhausted, drowsy, or sleep-deprived, they create extreme danger for everyone on the road. The consequences of fatigued driving can be just as severe as drunk driving, but trucking companies and truck drivers may ignore these risks in pursuit of faster deliveries and higher profits.

Victims of accidents caused by fatigued truck drivers may suffer serious injuries that can lead to financial losses and other difficulties. In these cases, the path to recovery can be long and uncertain. Medical bills can accumulate rapidly, while lost wages can create financial pressure. At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our truck accident lawyers can help clients address these issues and take steps to obtain compensation that will help them put their lives back together.

The Dangers of Fatigued Truck Driving

Drowsiness can slow a person's reaction time significantly. A driver who is alert can typically react to sudden hazards within about 1.5 seconds. Fatigued drivers may take two or three times longer to perceive a threat and respond appropriately. For truck drivers, this delayed response can mean the difference between avoiding a collision and crashing into another vehicle.

A person's attention and concentration will also deteriorate when they are tired. Fatigued truck drivers may experience "highway hypnosis" where they zone out and continue driving without truly processing their surroundings. They may miss traffic signals, fail to notice stopped vehicles ahead, overlook pedestrians in crosswalks, or fail to see cars entering their lane. The monotony of long trips combined with exhaustion can create a dangerous mental fog.

A truck driver's decision-making ability can also become impaired as fatigue sets in. A tired driver may make poor choices about whether to pass other vehicles, when to merge, how closely to follow other cars, and whether conditions are safe for the speed they are traveling. They may misjudge distances, underestimate the time needed to complete maneuvers, or take risks they would normally avoid.

Physical coordination and motor skills will also decline when a driver is exhausted. Fatigued truck drivers may drift out of their lanes, overcorrect when they realize their truck is wandering, struggle to maintain a steady speed, or have difficulty executing smooth turns. These problems can become more pronounced in challenging driving conditions like bad weather, heavy traffic, or complex highway interchanges.

Microsleep episodes are some of the most dangerous effects of severe fatigue. During a microsleep, a person's brain may briefly shut down for anywhere from a fraction of a second to several seconds. The driver will continue to sit upright with their eyes open, but they will essentially be unconscious and completely unaware of their surroundings. A truck that keeps moving without the truck driver being in control can collide with other vehicles and cause serious damage.

Common Causes of Truck Driver Fatigue

Multiple factors may contribute to driver fatigue in the trucking industry, including:

• Unrealistic Delivery Schedules: Truck drivers may face pressure to stay on the road longer than is safe. Trucking companies compete for business by promising fast deliveries. They may accept contracts with tight deadlines that require drivers to push their limits to meet expectations. When companies prioritize speed over safety, they can create conditions where driver fatigue becomes inevitable.
• Payment Structures: Many truck drivers are paid by the mile rather than by the hour. This compensation model means drivers will only earn money when they are moving. Time spent resting, sleeping, or dealing with delays will reduce their income. Drivers who are facing financial pressures may skip rest breaks or continue to drive while tired to maximize their earnings.
• Hours-of-Service Violations: Federal regulations limit the number of hours that commercial truck drivers can continue driving while also requiring them to take regular breaks. Some trucking companies and drivers may falsify logbooks or manipulate electronic logging devices to hide hours-of-service violations. Drivers may be pressured to keep moving despite having exhausted their legal driving hours.
• Sleep Disorders: Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, affects many truck drivers. People with untreated sleep apnea may not get sleep that is truly restful. They may experience chronic exhaustion even when they spend adequate time in bed. Federal regulations require truck drivers to be medically certified, but enforcement of sleep apnea screening is inconsistent.
• Inconsistent Schedules: Poor scheduling by trucking companies can disrupt a truck driver's normal sleep patterns. When drivers are assigned routes that require driving during nighttime hours or irregular shifts, their circadian rhythms may be affected. Truck drivers will be more likely to become tired or drowsy when driving at night or in early morning hours.
• Poor Sleeping Conditions: Inadequate rest facilities and uncomfortable berths in truck cabs make it difficult for drivers to get quality sleep during their off-duty hours. Noise from highway traffic, extreme temperatures, and the stress of sleeping in a parking lot can interfere with a person's ability to receive enough rest.

Proving Fatigue in Truck Accident Cases

Demonstrating that driver fatigue was responsible for a truck accident will require a careful investigation. Our lawyers can take steps to obtain evidence showing that a truck driver or trucking company was negligent, including:

• Electronic Logging Device Data: A truck's "black box" will automatically record driving time, engine hours, vehicle movement, and location. Our team can take action to obtain this data and determine whether a truck driver was complying with hours-of-service regulations or had been pushing beyond their legal limits.
• Driver Logs: The electronic or paper logs kept by a truck driver can show patterns of rest and driving. Our lawyers will look for signs that logs have been falsified, such as physically impossible travel times or inconsistencies between logs and other records like fuel receipts. Comparing logs from multiple days may reveal whether a driver had been getting adequate rest or was chronically sleep-deprived.
• Trucking Company Dispatch Records: Logs and communications between dispatchers and drivers can reveal pressure to violate hours-of-service rules. Text messages, emails, or recorded conversations may show that a company knew a driver was tired but instructed them to keep driving anyway.
• Witness Statements: People who saw a truck before a crash may be able to provide evidence of fatigued driving. Witnesses may have observed the truck weaving between lanes, drifting onto the shoulder, driving erratically, or making other movements indicating drowsiness.
• Medical Records: Information about a truck driver's medical treatment may reveal sleep disorders or other conditions that can contribute to fatigue.
• Surveillance Video and Photographs: Visual evidence from the scene of a truck accident can capture the moment of impact and show whether the driver attempted to brake or take evasive action. A lack of skid marks or defensive maneuvers may suggest that the driver was not paying attention due to fatigue or had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Contact Our Bridgeport Truck Driver Fatigue Attorneys

Truck accidents caused by fatigued drivers should never happen. Federal regulations are meant to prevent exhausted drivers from operating commercial vehicles, but trucking companies and drivers may violate these rules. When you have suffered harm because of a fatigued truck driver, you can take steps to obtain full compensation for your damages.

At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our attorneys have the experience and resources needed to investigate fatigued driving cases. We know where to find evidence of hours-of-service violations, how to prove that exhaustion caused a truck accident, and how to demonstrate the full extent of your damages. Contact our Bridgeport, CT driver fatigue truck accident lawyers at 203-335-5145 to arrange a free consultation and get the legal help you need.