Driving while overtired is a growing concern across America. More people work long hours and often do not get sufficient rest. Alarmingly, 250,000 drivers fall asleep behind the wheel every day in the United States. Studies show that fatigued driving significantly increases the risk of accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports an estimated 100,000 crashes caused by drowsy drivers each year. Research also shows that the less sleep a driver gets, the higher the accident risk: drivers with six to seven hours of sleep are twice as likely to be involved in a crash compared to those with eight or more hours, while those who sleep under five hours see their crash risk increase four to five times.
If you or a loved one were injured in a tractor-trailer collision due to a fatigued truck driver, a truck driver fatigue accident lawyer in Fort Worth, TX, can help you understand your legal rights and pursue compensation for your damages. Contact a truck accident lawyer today to explore your options.
Understanding Driver Fatigue
The leading cause of driver fatigue is the pressure to make deliveries on time. Time is money, and drivers may lose pay if shipments are late. Experienced Fort Worth attorneys find that in tractor-trailer crashes involving fatigued drivers, drivers often admit they feel pushed to take unsafe shortcuts. These risky choices significantly increase the likelihood of semi–truck accidents, many of which are deadly.
To prevent crashes, drivers and trucking companies must prioritize safe delivery methods over dangerous shortcuts. Cutting corners often costs time, money, and even lives.
The shipping industry runs on strict deadlines, and many commercial drivers are known for timely deliveries. This pressure can lead some drivers and companies to place speed above safety, contributing to the high number of semi-truck accidents on American highways each day.
Liability For a Truck Collision
Often, the drivers involved in the crash could be held responsible for injuries sustained in a crash, but the company that employed the semi driver may also be liable for damages. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets forth specific guidelines for trucking companies to follow, and any breach of these that leads to a subsequent injury could signal liability.
For example, a trucking company may be held liable if they hire an inexperienced driver or one who fails a drug or alcohol test, and it leads to the driver causing a crash. Additionally, a trucking company may also be liable for a collision if it incentivizes a driver to work more than allowed by government regulations, and the fatigued driver’s negligence leads to a wreck.
The driver who crashed the tractor-trailer may be held personally responsible for the crash. However, truck drivers may not be able to afford all of the compensation the injured party needs. This often means the trucking company that hired the driver will be taken to court as well, in most cases. These parties may also have insurance, which means the process of finding compensation can be complicated. A Fort Worth truck driver lawyer could investigate the driver fatigue semi collision and determine which party may be at fault for the collision.
Independent Contractors
Whether a trucking company is liable for accidents caused by its drivers depends on the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which means “let the superior make answer.” This principle holds that an employer can be responsible for the negligence of its employees under certain conditions. Key to this determination is whether the truck driver is classified as an employee or an independent contractor.
If a trucker is an independent contractor, the company generally is not responsible for their negligent actions. In contrast, trucking companies can be liable for accidents caused by drivers classified as employees. This distinction sometimes motivates motor carriers to misclassify drivers to limit liability.
A trucking company may be held liable if a crash occurs during the driver’s work hours or while performing duties for the company. Conversely, the company is usually not liable for accidents caused by drivers while off duty.
Determining whether an accident occurred within the scope of employment can be complex. Factors include the time and location of the crash, the driver’s job duties, allowed personal time, and the degree of independence the driver has while on duty. Many of these risks are also covered in discussions about common causes of truck accidents, highlighting how fatigue, shortcuts, and other pressures contribute to crashes.
Shippers & Loaders
The truck driver and the trucking company are not the only parties that could be held liable. The shipper or loader of the goods on the truck may be held liable as well if they overloaded the truck or if they loaded the truck improperly and this was the underlying cause of the crash. If the trucking company leased the truck from a third party, they may be held liable if it can be shown that the required maintenance was not conducted on the vehicle.
Manufacturers
Furthermore, another party commonly held liable in trucking accidents is the manufacturer of the vehicle’s parts. If the other injured party can show that one of these parts was defective, and its defect ultimately led to the crash, the manufacturer of the defective product may be labeled as a defendant.
Fort Worth Fatigued Driver Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Seek Help From a Fort Worth Truck Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyer
When a driver’s negligent actions cause a collision, they could be held liable for damages. Following a big rig crash, it is best to seek help from a tractor-trailer collision lawyer. They could conduct an independent investigation, collect evidence, and speak to witnesses to prove the defendant’s negligence.
Let an attorney from The Texas Law Dog help you seek compensation for your damages. With the help of a Fort Worth truck driver fatigue accident lawyer, you may be eligible to recover compensation for damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. Contact today to discuss your case and your legal options.
