Commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to avoid harming those they share the road with. When a driver spends too much time behind the wheel, they often fail to meet that responsibility. Fatigue sets in, reaction time slows, judgment becomes cloudy, and devastating collisions can follow.
The team at Schwaba Law Firm proudly represents victims of Green Bay truck driver fatigue accidents as they look to hold the negligent parties accountable and recover their rightful compensation. We can fight for you while you focus on recovery. Contact us today to learn more.
Why Driver Fatigue Is So Dangerous in Truck Accidents
Driver fatigue occurs when a person lacks sufficient rest and continues driving despite their exhaustion. Long shifts, irregular sleep schedules, and driving through the night often lead to fatigued driving in the trucking industry.
It’s important to understand that driver fatigue goes well beyond a driver feeling tired. It involves physical and mental exhaustion that reduces a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safely. For truck drivers, that means potentially losing control of a vehicle that weighs up to 80,000 pounds. Even a minor lapse can result in catastrophic harm.
Exhaustion affects the brain and body in measurable ways, including the following:
- Slowed Reaction Times – A fatigued driver can become slow to respond to traffic changes, braking vehicles, road hazards, and other dangerous conditions.
- Clouded Judgment – Tired drivers misjudge speed and distance, and often fail to maintain a safe following distance.
- Microsleeps – These brief, involuntary moments of sleep may only last a few seconds at a time, but at highway speeds, that’s enough for the truck to travel the length of a football field.
- Fading Attention – Maintaining the focus needed to avoid a serious collision becomes harder when a driver lacks rest.
Many effects of fatigue, such as slowed reaction times and clouded judgment, mirror those of drug or alcohol impairment. In fact, studies have shown that fatigued driving poses a similar amount of risk to others on the road as impaired driving does.
How Common Is Driver Fatigue in Truck Accidents?
Driver fatigue contributes to a significant number of fatal truck accidents in the United States every year. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, around 10 to 20 percent of the 4,000 fatal truck accidents recorded every year may involve fatigued drivers.
Fatigue is often underreported, unlike intoxication or speeding, because exhaustion can’t necessarily be recorded with a simple roadside test. Drivers rarely admit to falling asleep or feeling fatigued, and police reports may not list fatigue unless there is clear evidence.
What Causes Driver Fatigue in the Trucking Industry
Accidents caused by truck driver fatigue occur frequently in the trucking industry for several reasons, including the following:
- Long Hours on the Road – Federal regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver can operate without rest. However, even within legal limits, extended driving periods create physical and mental exhaustion. Some drivers push beyond safe limits and put everyone on the road at risk.
- Unrealistic Delivery Schedules – Trucking companies sometimes set delivery windows that create unfair expectations for drivers and fail to account for traffic delays or inclement weather. Drivers may feel pressure to continue driving despite exhaustion to avoid penalties or lost pay.
- Inadequate Rest Breaks – Drivers must take required off-duty periods, but some skip breaks or fail to sleep during rest windows. Poor sleep quality can lead drivers to feel fatigued more quickly once they get back on the road.
- Night Driving – Many truck drivers operate overnight to avoid daytime traffic, which disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Driving during regular sleeping hours increases the likelihood of drowsiness or dangerous microsleeps.
- Pressure from Employers – Some companies reward fast deliveries or punish slower ones. Drivers may fear losing their jobs or reducing their income if they push back against unsafe schedules. Trucking companies set drivers up for serious collisions by encouraging dangerous practices.
Crash Scenarios Commonly Linked to Fatigued Truck Drivers
Fatigued driving can cause collisions in several ways. The most common issues that our truck driver fatigue accident lawyers see include the following:
- Rear-End Collisions – A fatigued driver fails to notice slowing traffic and crashes into the vehicle ahead.
- Lane Drift Accidents – An exhausted driver drifts across lane markings or onto the shoulder, typically causing a head-on or side-swipe collision.
- Missed Traffic Signals – A driver fails to stop at a red light or stop sign, leading to a T-bone collision at an intersection.
- Delayed Braking – Slow reaction time prevents the driver from braking quickly enough to avoid a crash.
Who Can Be Held Responsible When Fatigue Causes a Truck Accident
Liability for a driver fatigue truck accident often extends beyond the driver. Our driver fatigue truck accident lawyers will investigate to determine whether the trucking company contributed to the collision via the following:
- Failing to enforce hours-of-service regulations
- Maintaining accurate electronic logging records
- Setting unrealistic deadlines for drivers
- Providing inadequate safety training
If a company pushes drivers to exceed legal limits or ignore rest requirements, it may share liability for any Green Bay truck driver fatigue accidents that follow.
In some cases, other parties may contribute to the danger, like maintenance contractors or cargo loaders. Our driver fatigue truck accident law firm investigates all angles to identify every liable party and pursue every potential source of compensation.
Hold Fatigued Truck Drivers Accountable in Green Bay
When a fatigued driver gets behind the wheel of a truck, they put innocent people at serious risk. When they cause a serious collision, you need a driver fatigue truck accident attorney to protect your rights. The team at Schwaba Law Firm stands ready to fight for you.
Our reputation is backed by a long list of five-star reviews from satisfied former clients, including this one:
“Andy is always helpful, available, and thoughtful in sharing his legal expertise. I fully trust his legal judgment and would highly recommend him and his firm.”—Molly Walsh, former client.
We can investigate the collision to uncover violations of federal regulations, gather critical evidence, and build a compelling case for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for your free, fully confidential consultation.
