Columbia Truck Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyer
Trucking is a stressful job, with many lonely hours out on the road. It is easy for a trucker to become tired when driving for more than 10 hours a day. Even worse, trucking companies put pressure on their drivers to make a delivery as soon as possible. The temptation is to drive all day and night to save the company money and eventually allow a trucker to get back to friends and family.
Truck driver fatigue is a leading cause of accidents. Innocent motorists pay the price in the form of car damage and major bodily injuries. Call our firm. A Columbia truck driver fatigue accident lawyer can help obtain compensation for your injuries. There are deadlines that apply to these cases, so don’t delay.
Proving Trucker Fatigue
Tired drivers are prone to making errors when behind the wheel. They might:
- Fail to brake in time and run over a vehicle which is in the way.
- Change lanes without checking their blind spot or without any regard for the safety of others.
- Run a light because they are too tired to notice the light is red.
- Nod off behind the wheel and run over a vehicle or slide into oncoming traffic.
- Back up at a loading dock without any concern for whether someone is crossing behind.
- Drive too fast to get to their destination because they are tired.
Unfortunately, some truckers end up taking drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine, to counter fatigue but which create other problems.
Proving fatigue is critical to obtaining compensation. Here is some probative evidence:
- Pay attention to how the trucker acts in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Is he yawning all the time? Did coffee cups come spilling out of the truck? Are his eyes red?
- The truck might have a “black box” which continually downloads data, like an airplane’s flight recorder. The data might tell us how long the trucker was on the road and whether they violated federal regulations.
- Did the trucker say anything, like “I’ve been driving all night”? These statements are admissible evidence.
Evidence like this helps establish fault. When a trucker is negligent, they are legally at fault for your collision.
Our firm also excels at calculating how much compensation you can request for losses like medical care, car damage, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Depending on the facts, we might also seek punitive damages, especially if the trucking company has a policy of forcing truckers to drive for too long. By hiring us, you are getting a zealous legal advocate who is looking out for your best interests. No one else in the process is doing that.
Contact Us Today
Were you injured in a truck accident and suspect the driver was fatigued? Call The Stanley Law Group to discuss your concerns. Our team of Columbia truck driver fatigue accident lawyers will provide advice about how to strengthen your claim. If you hire us, we can find relevant evidence and use it to negotiate with the defendant for favorable compensation.
