A truck accident in Tampa, Florida, can leave you with serious, long-term injuries. One of the most common reasons behind these accidents is driver fatigue. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), 13% of commercial motor vehicle operators were fatigued when they crashed.
For Tampa, FL, drivers, it’s vital to understand how tired truck drivers cause accidents — and how our Tampa tired truck driver accident lawyers help clients like you fight for justice. Contact us today at (813) 800-0810 to schedule a free consultation with Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers.
How Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident Caused by a Tired Truck Driver In Tampa
At Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers, we stand up for the rights of Tampa, FL, truck accident victims. Our experienced team of Tampa truck accident attorneys can provide a free consultation to evaluate the strength of your claim and explore options for seeking justice. If you partner with us, our team can act swiftly to reach a fair settlement offer on your behalf.
When you work with our firm, our Tampa personal injury lawyers can:
- Investigate the circumstances of the accident
- Negotiate with insurers and liable parties
- Build a strong case to support your claim for compensation
- Take the case to trial if the other party is unwilling to provide a fair settlement
The trucking company and their insurance company may not negotiate in good faith. Fortunately, our Tampa personal injury attorneys can take your case to trial if the other party refuses to do what’s right.
Understanding Truck Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue refers to a level of physical or mental exhaustion that impairs performance while behind the wheel.
Truck drivers can experience fatigue due to a variety of factors, which may include:
- Lack of sleep
- Driving too long
- Skipping breaks
- Engaging in strenuous work
Any combination of these elements can push a driver into a fatigued state. In Florida, truck driver fatigue is relatively common and can result in catastrophic accidents.
Extended Work Hours
The FMCSA has established strict hours of service (HOS) regulations for passenger-carrying and property-carrying drivers. These regulations are meant to reduce the risk of fatigue-related truck and bus accidents.
Passenger-carrying operators have stricter HOS limitations, which include:
- Must adhere to a 10-hour driving limit after eight consecutive hours of duty
- May not drive after having been on duty for 15 hours
Property-carrying drivers have to follow HOS limits as well.
These limits generally include:
- Must adhere to an 11-hour maximum driving limit after 10 consecutive hours of duty
- Must take a 30-minute break from driving after driving for eight cumulative hours
- May not drive after their 14th consecutive hour on duty
- May not drive 60/70 hours on duty in a 7/8 day consecutive period
Additionally, drivers must take 34 or more consecutive hours off after any 7/8 consecutive work period. When drivers exceed these hours or do not take the required time off, they are more likely to experience fatigue.
Irregular Sleep Patterns
Drivers, especially over-the-road drivers, sometimes work odd hours to avoid traffic congestion or meet delivery deadlines. Altering their sleep patterns can cause drivers to experience fatigue or get inadequate rest.
Monotonous Work
Long stretches of highway can induce drowsiness due to the lack of stimulation. It’s important for drivers to take breaks and monitor their fatigue levels so that they can avoid fatigue during long, monotonous drives.
Impact Of Fatigue On Driving Performance
Fatigue can drastically reduce someone’s reaction times. The impact on reaction times further worsens as a person “accumulates sleep debt.” This means that the longer a driver goes without sleep or the more that they lose, the longer it may take them to react to external stimuli, such as a light turning red.
In addition to reducing reaction times, fatigue may also decrease a driver’s attentiveness and ability to concentrate. They may struggle to focus on driving tasks like merging, maintaining a single lane, or navigating traffic signals.
Severe fatigue can also impair decision-making. For example, a driver may attempt to make it through a yellow light instead of slowing to a stop. This can cause a major crash within the intersection and potentially cause severe injuries or death.
Types Of Crashes Caused By Fatigue
Truck driver fatigue may increase the likelihood of all types of accidents in Tampa, including T-bones, jackknife accidents, blindspot collisions, and rear-end crashes. While any accident can be dangerous, crashes involving commercial trucks can be especially catastrophic due to the mass of the vehicles involved.
If you or a loved one was injured due to a fatigued driver, it’s vital to hold them and their employer accountable. Taking decisive legal action may help initiate policy or regulatory changes that spare others from similar crashes. Additionally, filing a personal injury claim against the negligent party can help you obtain the compensation you need to recover.
Contact Our Tampa Tired Truck Driver Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
Tired truck drivers can cause accidents in numerous ways. If you suffered injuries in a crash with a commercial truck in Tampa, FL, the compassionate and seasoned team at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today with a Tampa tired truck driver accident lawyer.
