It’s always important to be well-rested when driving, but it’s crucial for commercial truck drivers. A momentary lapse of concentration by a sleepy truck driver can have catastrophic consequences for others on the road. These include devastating injuries, expensive medical bills, and long-lasting mental health conditions.
If you sustained injuries in a collision with a drowsy semi-truck driver, contact Parker Trial Law immediately. You have a short window to file a claim after a crash resulting from driver fatigue, and our truck accident attorneys can fight on your behalf for maximum compensation. While you concentrate on healing, we’ll handle all the legal work and work toward the best possible outcome in your situation. Further, you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Albany.
How a GA Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help After a Drowsy Driving Wreck
At Parker Trial Law, we protect the rights of Albany truck accident victims by handling all the legal procedures and processes in these cases, including the following:
- Investigating the Accident – We can gather evidence, such as crash reports, witness statements, and black box data, to determine if driving while drowsy caused the collision and who’s liable for your injuries.
- Reviewing Hours of Service Logs – Truck drivers must follow strict regulations on driving hours. We can analyze the driver’s logs to check for violations that might indicate the driver broke the law, making them liable for your injuries.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies – We can handle all communication with the insurers to make sure they don’t pressure you into accepting a low settlement.
- Calculating Your Losses – In order to maximize your claim’s value, we can assess all your losses from the crash, including your truck accident injuries, lost income, pain and suffering, and vehicle repairs.
- Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit – If the truck driver or trucking company won’t offer a fair settlement, we can file a lawsuit and fight for your rights in court.
- Working with Experts – We collaborate with third-party accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and economic experts to strengthen your case and prove the truck driver’s negligence.
Dangers of Drowsy Driving
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), driving while drowsy can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Studies show that going more than 20 hours without sleep is comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent, which is double the legal limit for commercial truck drivers in Georgia.
As far as specific dangers go, fatigued truck drivers are more likely to miss critical hazards, such as sudden stops or lane changes, and may even fall asleep at the wheel. Finally, microsleeps (brief lapses in consciousness) can last just a few seconds but are enough time for a car to travel the length of a football field at highway speeds.
Why Is Drowsy Driving Commonly Responsible for Truck Accidents?
Drowsy driving is especially hazardous for truck drivers due to the size and weight of the vehicles they operate. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, meaning they require significantly longer stopping distances than passenger cars. Fatigue also reduces a truck driver’s reaction time and ability to make split-second decisions, increasing the likelihood of devastating accidents.
Furthermore, truck drivers often face demanding schedules and tight delivery deadlines, which can lead to long hours behind the wheel and insufficient rest. Even with federal Hours of Service regulations in place to limit driving time, some drowsy drivers may push the limits or falsify logbooks to meet job demands. Alternatively, many truck drivers face pressure from their employers to skirt the rules and go longer without breaks.
Who Is Responsible for Drowsy Driving Accidents?
While truck drivers are ultimately responsible for their actions and decisions, truck drowsy driving accidents in Albany can involve multiple liable parties. These include the following:
- The Truck Driver – Drivers who don’t follow Hours of Service regulations or choose to drive while fatigued may be directly responsible for a crash. Other negligent behaviors, like ignoring signs of exhaustion or using substances to stay awake, may further compound their liability.
- The Trucking Company – Trucking companies that pressure drivers to meet unrealistic delivery schedules or fail to enforce rest breaks can share responsibility for drowsy driving in trucking accidents. If these companies encourage or ignore logbook falsifications or fail to monitor compliance with federal regulations, they may be liable for a resulting crash.
- Maintenance Providers – Poor vehicle maintenance, such as faulty brakes or tires, can make a crash more likely when a fatigued driver’s reaction times are impaired. For example, failing to maintain a truck’s tires, brakes, steering, or other crucial systems can make a collision more likely.
At Parker Trial Law, we know how to identify and go after the parties who could be responsible for your accident. Helping accident victims is our priority; contact us today to learn more about how we can do it for you.
Regulations that Affect Drowsy Driving Crashes
The critical regulations that affect drowsy driving truck crashes in Albany are the state and federal Hours of Service rules that truck drivers and trucking companies must follow. Georgia’s Hours of Service rules apply to trucks and companies that operate solely within state boundaries, while the federal rules apply to vehicles that cross state lines. The key rules are as follows:
Federal Hours of Service Rules:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit – Truck drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 14-Hour Workday Limit – Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after starting work, even if they take breaks.
- 30-Minute Break Requirement – Truckers must take a break of at least 30 minutes after eight cumulative hours of driving time.
- 60/70-Hour Limit – Drivers cannot drive after accumulating 60 hours in seven days or 70 hours in eight days, depending on their schedule.
- 34-Hour Restart – Drivers can reset their 60/70-hour limit by taking 34 consecutive hours off duty.
- Sleeper Berth Exception – Drivers may split required rest breaks using sleeper berths, as long as one break is at least seven hours and the other is at least two hours.
Georgia Intrastate Hours of Service Rules:
- 12-Hour Driving Limit – Intrastate drivers may drive up to 12 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 16-Hour Workday Limit – Drivers may not drive after the 16th consecutive hour from the start of their shift.
- 70/80-Hour Weekly Limit – Intrastate drivers cannot drive after 70 hours on duty in seven days or 80 hours in eight days.
- Agricultural Exemptions – Drivers transporting agricultural goods within a 150-mile radius are exempt from Hours of Service regulations.
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Compliance – Intrastate drivers must use ELDs unless otherwise exempted under specific conditions.
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers for Legal Help
Our Albany truck accident lawyers are ready to fight on your behalf after a drowsy driving accident. Call Parker Trial Law now or reach out online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your case.
