Truck drivers are notorious for driving while fatigued. These drivers spend long hours and days on the road, staring at the same monotonous highway. Any driver who has been on a long road trip knows that such conditions can make you tired and fatigued. However, many truck drivers attempt to push through fatigue in order to complete deliveries on time. Such attempts can be extremely dangerous, and should the driver doze off behind the wheel, he puts all other motorists on the road at risk of serious collision with a tractor-trailer that may weigh up to 80,000 pounds. If you have been involved in an accident because a driver fell asleep or lost concentration due to fatigue, you should call an experienced Grantville truck accident attorney to discuss how you may recover for your resulting injuries and losses.
Scientific research has stated that excessive sleep deprivation has a similar effect on a person’s brain as intoxicating substances such as alcohol or drugs. Sleep deprivation can cause the following in drivers:
- Slower reflexes and reaction times
- Lack of concentration
- Irritability or mood swings
- Mental “fuzziness” or fogginess
- Reduced decision-making abilities
After a certain period of time, sleep deprivation has been known to cause migraines and even seizures. If a person regularly deprives himself of adequate sleep, he may even be at a much higher risk to develop health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Overall, driving while fatigued and sleep-deprived is much more dangerous than many truck drivers may imagine. They usually continue driving while fatigued until they are in an accident and it is too late.
Contact a Grantville personal injury attorney for a free consultation
If you have suffered injuries in an accident because a truck driver was fatigued or sleep-deprived, you deserve to hold that driver liable for his negligent actions. A truck accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law can help you do just that, and will work to make sure you receive full compensation for all of your injury-related losses. Call our office today at (980) 246-2656 to schedule a free consultation and discuss a possible case.