Driver Fatigue - Semi Truck Accidents

San Antonio 18 Wheeler Accident Cases

Approximately one in four multiple vehicle auto accidents resulting in a fatality involve a large truck, including semi-trucks or 18 wheelers. Every year commercial truck accidents kill over 5,000 people and harm about 150,000 on the highways nationally. Driver fatigue and drowsiness result in numerous accidents. Usually violations of staying in the proper lane and running off the road are common occurrences involving 18-wheeler driver fatigue. A qualified San Antonio accident lawyer experienced in handling 18-wheeler cases will research a truck driver’s consecutive on-duty hours before the accident to see if driver fatigue is the likely cause.

An individual’s ability to perform simple tasks is impaired with sleep deprivation, especially in driving and operating heavy equipment. Frequently the driver’s fatigue is caused by inadequate daily sleep, as opposed to the absence of sleep. Because of these concerns, in April of 2003, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established new hours of service regulations to curb truckers’ problems with fatigue. Though these laws have helped reduce the amount of accidents, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board still faults driver fatigue as a likely factor in 20-40% of commercial truck crashes.

According to the FMCSA, a truck driver is required by Federal law not to exceed a specified number of consecutive on-duty hours in a 24 hour period in order to qualify for a new work cycle. Unfortunately, trucking companies often put profit over safety and push their drivers past the boundaries. Staying on the road longer than safely allowed is a flagrant violation of the law and puts lives at risk. When a truck driver is pushed by his / her trucking company to meet deadlines truck drivers often resort to driving longer than legally allowed. The trucking company is held responsible for these types of violations. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, contact a qualified San Antonio accident injury attorney immediately.

Truck Driver Fatigue Facts:

• Large trucks accounted for 13% of all passenger vehicle deaths in 1999 yet represented only 3% of all registered vehicles, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration or NHTSA, 2000.
• Truck driver fatigue is an influential cause of approximately 30-40% of all heavy truck crashes, according to the NHTSA, 1994.
• The 1995 National Transportation Safety Board or NTSB study discovered that of 107 heavy truck crashes, fatigue was a prominent factor in 75% of the “run off the road” crashes, with 68% of long haul drivers and 49% of short haul drivers suffering fatigue related crashes.
• The risk of a crash doubles from the eight to the tenth hour of driving and doubles again from the tenth to the eleventh hour of driving alone, according to FMCSA, 2000.
• In an FHWSA (1999) survey, 28% of drivers surveyed admitted to falling asleep at the wheel during the prior month and 1/3 of the same drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel three to six times during the prior month.
• A survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS, 1992) revealed that almost 75% of the 1249 truck drivers polled violated hours of service regulations.