In any given month, nearly one‑third of drivers admit they’ve driven while drowsy, and nationally, fatigue causes up to 1.2 million crashes and more than 5,000 deaths annually. Driver fatigue was also a factor in one out of every eight serious truck crashes, according to the FMCSA’s Large Truck Crash Causation Study.
When a trucker is too tired to stay alert behind the wheel, the consequences can be devastating for them and the motorists around them. With 80,000 pounds of steel moving at highway speeds, even a few seconds of inattention can change lives forever.
At Parrish DeVaughn, our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers represent victims of serious truck crashes, not the companies or drivers who cause them. If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck crash, fatigue may have played a bigger role than you realize.
Why Fatigued Truck Drivers Are a Threat to Everyone on the Road
Driving a commercial truck requires constant attention, sharp reflexes, and the ability to make split-second decisions. Fatigue compromises all those abilities.
A tired driver may:
- Struggle to focus on the road
- Drift between lanes or fail to maintain safe following distances
- React slowly to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions
- Miss exits, signs, or hazards
- Make poor judgment calls due to mental fog
Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, the legal limit in 49 states, including Oklahoma.
What Causes Truck Driver Fatigue?
Truck drivers are under enormous pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines. Unfortunately, this pressure often leads to unsafe habits, such as skipping breaks, shortening sleep cycles, and ignoring warning signs of fatigue.
Common causes of truck driver fatigue include:
- Long Shifts and Overnight Driving: Many truckers drive up to 11 hours at a time, often during late-night or early-morning hours when the body naturally craves sleep.
- Lack of Quality Sleep: Sleeping in a cab or at a rest stop doesn’t offer the same restful sleep as sleeping in a bed at home or in a hotel. Chronic poor sleep builds up into dangerous fatigue.
- Tight Schedules and Financial Incentives: Some drivers may feel forced to drive longer hours than they should to meet unrealistic deadlines or increase their income.
- Irregular Schedules: Many truckers operate on rotating or inconsistent schedules, making it harder to maintain a healthy sleep routine.
Federal Hours-of-Service Rules Are Designed to Prevent Fatigue
To reduce the risk of crashes caused by tired drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented strict Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations. These rules limit the amount of time commercial truck drivers can be on the road and the frequency of their required rest periods.
Key requirements include:
- 11-hour driving limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, drivers may drive for a maximum of 11 hours.
- 14-hour shift limit: Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty, even if they took breaks during the day.
- 30-minute break: Drivers must take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving.
- 60/70-hour limit: Depending on the company’s schedule, drivers cannot exceed 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days or 70 hours over 8 days.
When these rules are followed, they can help reduce the risk of driver fatigue. But when they’re ignored, falsified, or violated, truckers and their employers can be held liable for the consequences.
Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents Are Often Preventable
Fatigue-related crashes aren’t just tragic, they’re usually avoidable. If you were injured in a collision with a commercial truck, don’t assume it was just an accident. The FMCSA estimates that following HOS rules prevents around 1,400 truck crashes yearly, saving 19 lives and avoiding 560 injuries.
Trucking companies must ensure their drivers comply with HOS regulations and get adequate rest. They may be legally responsible for your injuries and losses when they fail to do so.
Our legal team can help investigate the crash, analyze driver logs, electronic records, and GPS data, and determine whether fatigue contributed to your accident. If so, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Future care or disability needs
Want to know what sets our firm apart? Learn more about our accident case results or how we prove liability in commercial crash claims.
Get Legal Help From an Experienced Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer
Don’t let a trucking company shift the blame after a crash that wasn’t your fault. If a fatigued truck driver caused your injuries, you deserve full compensation.
Critical evidence, like driver logs and GPS data, can disappear quickly. Contact Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers hold negligent truckers and their employers accountable.
