We trust professional truck drivers to be safe and alert on the road. However, the pressure to meet tight deadlines and deliver cargo on time often pushes these drivers to the limit. Many truck drivers stay behind the wheel long after they should have stopped to rest, fighting to keep their eyes open on long stretches of highway.
This decision to “power through” can have fatal consequences. Drowsy driving slows a driver’s reaction time and clouds their judgment, making a tired trucker just as dangerous as a drunk one. Understanding this risk is critical, especially if you have been injured in a collision with a truck.
Drowsy driving and car accidents
The statistics surrounding fatigued driving are alarming, yet they likely only scratch the surface of the problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were roughly 91,000 police-reported crashes involving drowsy drivers in 2017 alone.
These accidents resulted in about 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths. However, safety professionals and sleep scientists agree that the real numbers are probably much higher, as drowsiness is difficult to prove after a crash.
These accidents tend to follow a specific, tragic pattern. They occur most frequently during the body’s natural “dips” in energy, which is typically between midnight and 6:00 a.m., or in the late afternoon. Unlike crashes caused by speeding or weaving, drowsy driving accidents often involve a single driver with no passengers.
The vehicle usually drifts off a rural road or highway at a high speed, with no evidence that the driver ever hit the brakes. This lack of reaction often makes the resulting impact devastating.
Secure fair compensation after a truck accident
While any driver can fall asleep at the wheel, the risk is incredibly high in the trucking industry due to long hours and tight deadlines. If you are injured in a crash with a commercial truck, consider working with a personal injury attorney. They can handle the complex legal battle against trucking companies and their insurers.