Serving Texarkana And Clients Nationwide Since 1992

Dangers of long-haul truck driving

On Behalf of | Nov 22, 2019 | Firm News |

Long-haul truck drivers spend most of their days on the road. The federal government has safety regulations for drivers to follow to ensure safety for everyone; however, people do not always follow these regulations, which may lead to unsafe conditions.

The regulations stipulate that truck drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours per day and must take a 10-hour break after each workday. In addition, drivers may not drive more than 70 hours in a one-week period; however, they may reset the work week by taking a 34 hour rest period. Truck drivers must follow these laws, or they increase the safety risk for all drivers on the road.

Overworked truck drivers

Some companies have mileage-based pay and even provide incentives to workers who drive the most per month. This might lead drivers to take more safety risks and drive over the regulated limit. In addition, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that 73% of truck drivers feel their tight delivery schedules are unrealistic.

Potential safety risks on the road

There are several safety risks when overworked truck drivers are on the road. Driving on the road for an extended period may lead to sleep deprivation, which lessens the ability to concentrate and slows reaction time. Fatigue also affects a driver’s judgment. In fact, drowsiness and alcohol impairment have many of the same effects.

Personal injury accident with a truck driver

There are a number of factors to consider after being in a personal injury accident with a truck driver. For example, the driver may not be the person at fault, or there may be several parties that contributed to the accident. Having photo or video evidence of the accident is important for proving fault. If the insurance company does not provide an adequate settlement, it may be necessary for the victim of a collision with a tractor-trailer to file a lawsuit.