Deerfield Beach Truck Driver Fatigue

Federal laws require all commercial truck drivers to take adequate rest periods and to drive for no more than ten hours before resting. There are additional rules regulating how long drivers of tractor trailers and big rigs can drive before taking a longer rest break. Even though truck drivers have one of most dangerous jobs in the country, obeying hours of service laws can go a long way towards preventing traffic accidents caused by fatigue. When truck drivers and motor carriers are negligent in ensuring that truck drivers get adequate rest as well as proper sleep, serious traffic accidents and fatalities in Deerfield Beach and other communities occur.

Have you been injured in a serious commercial truck accident? It is important to consult with a personal injury attorney in Deerfield Beach or your community. If a truck driver violated rules and caused your accident, you may be entitled to compensation that can help you pay for medical costs, lost wages, and other bills related to your injuries. To get more details, you can always contact Flaxman Law Group at any time of the day or night to get more information from a personal injury attorney.

There are many ways that fatigue can lead to traffic accidents:

• Truck drivers may fall asleep at the wheel and lose control of the vehicle
• Truck drivers may fall into very short sleeps known as micro-sleeps, losing control the vehicle for short periods of time
• Truck drivers may make preventable errors because they are so fatigued that they exhibit poor judgment
• Truck drivers may drift into oncoming lanes because they are slowly falling asleep
• Truck drivers may have poor motor skills due to extreme fatigue, making them unable to prevent a car accident

Many studies have shown that truck drivers and car drivers who are fatigued in fact have the same slow response times and the same poor judgment as drunk drivers. Just as much has been done to prevent drunk driving accidents in Deerfield Beach and Florida, much has been done to prevent fatigued driving. While truck drivers are required by law to obey certain hours of service rules and to get adequate rest in between drives, this does not always happened.

If you are injured in a severe traffic accident and you think that the truck driver may have been fatigued, you may notice certain signs. For example, the truck driver may have been weaving all over the road before the accident occurred. Or, the truck driver may have appeared very sleepy or unaware when you stopped to exchange contact information and insurance information. It is important to note such details and to contact a personal injury attorney right away.

Would like to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about your situation? Contact Flaxman Law Group at any time to arrange for a free, no obligation consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys. Whether you would like to negotiate with insurance carriers or would like to file a legal claim, our team can take care of all the details so that you can focus on healing and on your family.