Truck driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of Minnesota truck accidents in the United States. Studies have shown that found driver fatigue is tantamount to driving while intoxicated. Consequently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented strict regulations on truckers which limit the amount of time a truck driver is permitted to spend on the road.
Sadly, in the competitive market of commercial freight, these regulations are often ignored for the sake of increasing productivity, placing other drivers on the road at incredible risk.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, please call (612) 333-4662 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Minneapolis truck accident attorneys.
We can help you no matter where in Minnesota you were hurt.
Liability
You may think that a fatigued truck driver alone bears responsibility for an accident, but this is seldom the case. Often, the truck driver is being pushed by the company he works for to meet an unrealistic schedule, forcing him to drive long hours without rest.
In these instances, both the driver and his employer will share responsibility for any injuries you sustain. When we investigate a potential case, we consider all possible parties who may be liable for your or your loved one’s injuries.
For more information on what our Minnesota personal injury attorney can do for you and other residents throughout Minnesota, please contact Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Why Is Fatigue So Dangerous for Truck Drivers?
Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents in Minnesota and throughout the nation. To address the threat of driver fatigue to public safety, the federal government established strict regulations regarding the amount of time drivers can legally operate their trucks. You can visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s page for a more detailed summary of the law, but the important takeaway is that drivers can only operate their vehicles for 11 consecutive hours after at least 10 hours off the road.
However, many trucking companies do not follow these regulations and encourage their drivers to violate them by setting unrealistic standards.
Why is this dangerous for truck drivers and everyone who shares the road with them?
Fatigue slows down your body’s reaction times and impairs cognitive functions. When a driver is operating a massive commercial truck, he or she needs to be thinking clearly. The difference between a close call and a fatal accident can be a fraction of a second.
Breaking driving time regulations is negligent and unacceptable. That’s why Goldenberg Lauricella’s Minnesota truck accident lawyers are so passionate about pursuing cases resulting from driver fatigue. Not only do innocent victims deserve justice and compensation, accountability is the only way to ensure that trucking companies follow the law.
If you’re a Minnesota resident in need of an experienced truck accident lawyer, please contact Goldenberg Lauricella today for a free consultation.