Fort Lauderdale Truck Driver Fatigue

Commercial truck drivers are required by law to get adequate rest and to drive no more than ten hours before taking a break. They also must not drive more than 77 hours per week without a longer break. These federal rules are designed to not only protect the health and well-being of the truck drivers, but also to protect everyone on the road. Quite simply, tired truck drivers are dangerous truck drivers. In fact, research suggests that fatigued drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers. They can cause traffic accidents and have the same slowed response times and poor judgment.

If you have been in a truck accident in Fort Lauderdale or any Florida community, it is worthwhile to ask whether the truck driver’s level of fatigue played a role. Unfortunately, despite federal regulations some truck drivers continue to drive when they are dangerously tired. If you think that driver fatigue or negligence played a role in your accident and injuries, you can always reach Flaxman Law Group to arrange for a free accident consultation to discuss your situation with a personal injury attorney.

Even though there are strict rules in place, there are many reasons why a truck driver may drive when they are dangerously fatigued:

• They may suffer from insomnia, sleep apnea, or another sleep disorder and may feel tired or may be inadequately rested even after taking the required time off
• Truck drivers may be pressured by motor carriers to meet unreasonable deadlines and to drive past safe limits
• Truck drivers may feel pressure to earn more and therefore drive longer than allowed
• Truck drivers and motor carriers may falsify documentation to hide how long the truck driver has actually rested

If you have sustained a serious injury in a truck accident, you may assume that you are covered because you have medical coverage or car accident insurance. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In many cases, insurance companies undervalue claims or deny claims, especially when they involve serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and permanent injuries.

Unfortunately, serious injuries are very common with truck accidents involving fatigued drivers, since fatigued drivers often lose control of their vehicles and cause catastrophic accidents. Facing an insurance dispute in Fort Lauderdale or your community at the same time that you are dealing with catastrophic injury as well as the aftermath of a traffic accident can be devastating. It is a good idea to consult with a personal injury attorney in order to get legal advice and in order to secure someone who can negotiate on your behalf with your insurance carrier.

Would you like to speak with a personal injury attorney who has experience in both traffic accident cases and in the insurance industry? Contact the full-service law firm at Flaxman Law Group. Charles Flaxman of Flaxman Law Group has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry as well as more than 25 years of experience as a trial attorney.