Dangers of Fatigued Truck Driving

Tractor trailers are the most dangerous vehicles that regularly travel on our roads. Their immense size and weight are not only intimidating to drivers of smaller vehicles, but increase the risk of serious injury or even death in the case of a truck crash. This risk is heightened when truck drivers are negligent or reckless in their operation of the truck. One of the most common truck accident causes in Massachusetts and across the nation, related to truck operator negligence, is fatigued driving.

Hours-of-Service Regulations

Fatigued driving is dangerous for all drivers, but especially big rig drivers, which is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations to limit the amount of time a truck operator can drive. Every truck driver must log their hours and not exceed the maximum amount without stopping for the appropriate rest breaks. Unfortunately, many drivers falsify their logs and continue driving beyond the allowed number of hours in order to make deliveries faster, which often results in higher pay and/or bonuses.

Effects of Fatigued Driving

Driving while drowsy or tired has a variety of negative consequences, all of which are more dangerous when the vehicle in question is an 80,000 pound semi truck. Fatigued driving can result in all or any combination of the below dangerous actions, though these are only a sample of the things that could go wrong:

• Drifting into other lanes of traffic;
• Failure to brake;
• Improper braking;
• Sudden changes in speed;
• Poorly navigating turns; and
• Losing control of the truck.

It is a truck driver’s duty to operate their big rig according to federal regulations and with the safety of other road users in mind. If they fail to do so and cause a truck accident, they may be held liable for their negligence.

Contacting a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

At the Kiley Law Group, our experienced truck accident lawyers in Boston are committed to helping truck accident victims in Massachusetts pursue maximum compensation for the losses they’ve suffered as a result of truck driver negligence. To find out more about how we can help you, call us today for a free legal consultation at (888) 208-1695.