Cook County Lawyers for Truck Accidents Involving Driver Fatigue

Personal Injury Attorneys Representing Victims of Tired Semi Driver Crashes in Orland Park and Tinley Park

Fatigued driving is a problem on roads everywhere across the United States. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found 1 in 25 drivers had fallen asleep at the wheel in the past month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that in one year, drowsy driving caused 72,000 accidents, 44,000 injuries and 800 deaths.

Because of the increased potential for disaster, tired driving is a bigger concern for truck drivers, many of whom put in 70 hours and well over 2,000 miles in an eight-day period. With those demands, it is little surprise that driver fatigue plays a frequent role in truck accidents.

If driver negligence caused a truck crash that injured you or led to the death of a loved one, Schwartz Injury Law can help determine all contributing factors and pursue the compensation you deserve. Whether it is only the driver at fault, or multiple individuals or businesses, we will work to ensure those responsible for your hardship are held accountable.

Truck Accidents Caused by Driver Fatigue

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Large Truck Crash Causation Study, which included 12,000 commercial truck accidents over a three-year period, found fatigue played a role in 13 percent of semi truck wrecks. In 7 percent of crashes, truck drivers were asleep at the wheel.

Despite these dangers, because a truck driver's livelihood depends on the number of miles they can travel in a defined period of time, some ignore the mandated 11-hour daily driving cap or 34-hour resting period for those who reach 70 hours. Tight delivery deadlines set by employers cause many truckers to neglect sleep and push themselves past a reasonable physical threshold. Bonus incentives to make deliveries ahead of schedule only compound the issue. To combat these practices, the FMCSA now mandates all truck drivers must track their driving and rest with a written log or electric onboard recorder, to ensure proper rest occurs.

Tired driving can be as hazardous as drunk driving because fatigue impairs the reflexes, reaction time and judgment necessary to drive a tractor-trailer with its immense size and weight. Truck drivers are trained to know driver fatigue signs, so any driver who causes an accident due to lack of sleep can be found negligent in court.

Causes for Truck Accidents

A tired driver is often not the only reason a tractor-trailer or its load collided with another vehicle. Other frequent reasons for truck crashes include:

• Speeding
• DUI and drug use
• An Improperly loaded or maintained truck
• Shifting or lost cargo load

Freight loaders, maintenance mechanics, truck leasing companies and trucking businesses can be found negligent in semi crashes. Schwartz Injury Law can help discover who and what contributed to an accident, to help secure compensation. Truck accident settlements and judgments for our clients include awards up to $10.95 million in one case.

Contact Oak Lawn Attorneys for Truck Accident Claims

Our attorneys can help determine if truck driver error caused by fatigue or other factors led to the crash that impacted your life. Contact an Orland Park personal injury lawyer at 708-888-2160 for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout northern Illinois, including but not limited to Mokena, Country Club Hills, Lockport, Oak Forest, Bridgeview, Markham, Summit, Chicago Heights and Alsip.