Savannah Truck Accident Attorneys Gather Evidence of Driver Fatigue

Lack of sleep is often a key factor in truck driver negligence

There’s an old alertness trick that truck drivers supposedly used to stay awake during long hauls. They’d keep a lit cigarette between their fingers, so that if they drifted off to sleep, it would burn down to their hand and wake them up — hopefully before a crash. Whether that is fact or myth, driver fatigue during long hauls is an ever-present danger. At Owens & Mulherin in Savannah, our truck accident lawyers have helped Georgia residents recover damages for injuries sustained in accidents caused by truckers being too tired to operate their vehicles safely. We’re ready to put our skill and experience to work for you.

Consequences of truck driver fatigue

A 2007 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that about 13 percent of truck drivers involved in accidents were fatigued at the time. Fatigue slows a driver’s reactions to traffic and road conditions. It also diminishes awareness and judgment. Traffic analysts claim that being awake for 18 hours can reduce driving capability to the same extent as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent.

Impairment by fatigue is especially dangerous for commercial truck drivers, because their vehicles have less maneuverability and require greater time to stop and to execute movements, such as lane changes. When a driver’s reaction time is reduced, the likelihood of a crash increases substantially. Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, accidents can result in catastrophic damage to other vehicles and their occupants.

Factors contributing to dangerous truck driver fatigue

Long-haul trucking is an exhausting occupation and several factors can exacerbate the problem, such as:

Beginning a trip without sufficient rest
Being out of sync with natural circadian rhythm (wake/sleep cycle)
Nighttime driving
Sleep inertia, a temporary disorientation and decline in performance shortly after waking from a nap
Poor diet contributing to fatigue
Putting in a long workday before getting behind the wheel
Medication-induced drowsiness, such as from cold and allergy tablets
Ignoring the signs of drowsiness and failing to pull over for a rest
Reliance on alertness tricks, such as smoking, turning up the radio, drinking coffee and opening the window.

Drivers must be vigilant and exercise self-care, but they might also come under pressure from employers to keep to unreasonable delivery schedules.

Trucking regulations and fault for accidents

The FMCSA promulgates regulations for common carriers that include hours-of-service restrictions designed to keep fatigued drivers off the road. These rules limit the number of hours a driver can spend consecutively behind the wheel, as well as the number of hours a driver can work at nondriving tasks before beginning a trip. However, trucking companies sometimes ignore these limitations, and truck drivers are often not in a position to refuse requests from their employers.

Fortunately, trucking companies are required to log hours for drivers, and our attorneys can subpoena these records once we’ve initiated a lawsuit. A regulatory violation is not definitive proof of liability for personal injury. But evidence that a driver was almost certainly fatigued can help prove negligence, since the standard is “by a preponderance of the evidence,” not “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Legal recourse for victims of fatigued trucker crashes

Trucking companies and their insurers have substantial legal resources and their attorneys defend claims aggressively. If you are seriously injured in a truck accident, you cannot expect to obtain full value for your claim without retaining an experienced truck accident lawyer. Our firm is ready to assert your right to win the full compensation you deserve.

Contact our experienced Savannah trucking accident lawyers

Owens & Mulherin in Savannah provides trustworthy personal injury representation for victims of Georgia trucking accidents. Call us today at 912-212-2100 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

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"I was pregnant and injured in an automobile accident. Mr. Owens, personally, came to the hospital. He told me he would handle everything, I just needed to get healthy for the baby and myself. Mr. Owens did everything he said he would. I highly recommend Owens and Mulherin. Everyone in their office is friendly and informative. You're not just another client with them, they genuinely care." - Lindsay Chadwick
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"Following an automobile accident I sought representation from Wil Owens. Throughout the process he and his staff were always very kind, informative, and diligent in protecting my rights and interests. I knew my case was minor comparatively speaking, however, they never minimized the importance of my situation or claim. I would highly recommend this local law firm!!Sincerely,Christi (Fry) Vinyard" - Christi Fry
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"Absolutely 100% the best law firm around. I was completely blown away by the staff with all their generosity and helpfulness every step of the way. Wilbur Owens is hands down the best attorney I have ever met. He was caring, professional, and helpful in all aspects of my case, from the very begining with all my treatments to the very end with my settlement. He was highly recommend to me and I have heard nothing but great things about him and his firm. They truly are the best around and if ths need were to arise again in the future I will gladly come to the law firm of Owens and Mulherin. Wonderful people and they gave me my life back as well as piece of mind, and for that I am and always will be truly thankful." - Courtney Graves
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Wilbur D. Owens

Attorney

Mr. Owens devotes his practice exclusively to representing plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death claims. His primary focus is automobile/tractor-trailer accidents, dog bites, slip/trip and falls, medical malpractice, injuries from dangerous products, job injuries and nursing home abuse. Before joining forces with Mr. Mulherin to open Owens & Mulherin in 2001, Mr. Owens worked…

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Joseph A. Mulherin