Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

There are over 8 million large trucks that travel United States roads every day. Unfortunately, many of these drivers are operating on very little sleep. Truck driver fatigue is one of the major causes of trucking disasters in our country. Sadly, many large trucking companies are pressured by profit margin and companies are placing deliveries over the public’s safety.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, more than 750 people die and 20,000 more are injured each year due directly to fatigued truck drivers.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a fatal tractor/trailer truck collision, it is important to consider your legal options. Several factors are considered when an attorney investigates a collision. Our law firm and expert witnesses can review the driver’s log to determine the number of hours of driving leading up to the collision. When taking the deposition of the driver, our experience in depositions and truck accident trials allows us to craft questions about the driver’s period of sleep or sleep immediately prior to the accident as well as his long-term sleep activities and driving schedule. Some of this information will then be compiled and can be a good indicator of whether driver fatigue was a factor in a collision. Similarly, our firm considers the driver’s working conditions to see if his or her work environment or company guidelines contributed to their lack of sleep. Quite often, a truck driver’s working conditions can be a factor contributing to driver fatigue. Some drivers that are paid by the mile or by the load have a financial incentive to drive without sufficient periods of sleep. Unfortunately, this financial incentive is a safety disincentive to the motoring public.