How Truck Driver Fatigue Leads to Serious Accidents on Atlanta’s Major Freight Corridors

Truck driver fatigue is a serious risk factor for motorists navigating I-285, I-20, and I-75 here in Atlanta. These are some of the most congested, busy roadways in Atlanta. With many large trucks traveling around these interstates each day, it is no wonder that large truck accidents are so common. 

One of the common reasons why large truck accidents occur is due to driver fatigue. Time is of the essence in the world of logistics and transportation. When seconds matter, these truck drivers are expected to do whatever it takes to reduce the amount of time between Point A and Point B. Unfortunately, sometimes the actions of a truck driver in trying to reduce their pick-up or delivery times may lead to injuries in the form of a serious accident. 

What Makes Driver Fatigue Such a Major Problem on the Interstates of Atlanta?

The safe operation of a large truck is at the core of every decision made by a truck driver. As members of the driving public, every motorist in the vicinity of a large truck expects these truck drivers to operate their vehicles with the safety of others at the forefront. 

Atlanta features a perfect storm of conditions that make the area’s interstates especially susceptible to the dangers posed by truck driver fatigue. Among the major risks posed by driver fatigue are:

• Drivers are less alert when fatigued. Traffic signals, slowing of the vehicles around a large truck, and signs alerting motorists to changing conditions ahead are all ways to avoid an accident. When the truck driver is less alert due to fatigue, that places everyone on the interstate at risk of suffering an injury.
• When fatigued, a truck driver does not make decisions as efficiently or as accurately. Being able to determine what an appropriate stopping time is prior to impacting a vehicle from the rear is something that is much more difficult when the truck driver is fatigued. 
• Even short periods of sleep when operating a large truck can prove disastrous. All it takes is a matter of seconds for a truck driver to cause extensive damage and bodily injuries if their vehicle is out of control due to operator fatigue. 

Did You Know?

• Being awake for 18+ hours can impair driving ability at a level similar to a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration. 
• Driver fatigue is a contributing factor in an estimated 13–20% of large truck crashes nationwide. 
• Thousands of commercial vehicle crashes occur annually in Georgia, with a significant portion happening on Atlanta’s major interstate corridors. 

Examining Hours of Service Regulations In Relation To Fatigued-Induced Truck Accidents

Federal regulations require Hours of Service adherence by truck drivers. These regulations provide for a maximum of hours a truck driver may operate their vehicle before needing to sleep. In most cases, this looks like eleven hours of driving is allowed after taking ten hours to be off-duty- ostensibly, resting or sleeping. 

Keeping track of this information is critical for truck drivers and the companies they work for. Federal authorities will inspect vehicles and driver logs at random along the route- including those within and outside Atlanta. Ideally, by conducting these surprise audits, authorities can help prevent accidents before they occur. 

Who Is At Fault in an Atlanta Truck Accident Case?

Let’s suppose that a truck driver passing through Atlanta has failed to abide by the federal laws regarding how often the driver must stop during a route to rest. The violation of a federal regulation by a truck driver can establish negligence or the failure to exercise reasonable care while driving. 

When a truck driver violates the federal regulation on sleep frequency, that will impact a court’s determination of liability in a large truck accident case. Much of the time, an injury victim only needs to show that a federal regulation was broken in order to prove that the commercial truck driver was negligent in operating their vehicle. 

Truck drivers, as well as the company that employs them, may be held liable for injuries and other losses caused by driver fatigue. Drivers often find themselves being determined as the cause of an accident by failing to take sufficient breaks or even by completing their driver logs with false information. 

Likewise, a trucking company may be responsible for an accident if the employer was complicit in causing any of the above safety and regulatory violations to occur. Close monitoring of driver hours behind the wheel is a huge part of accurately reporting the habits of a driver. When that close monitoring does not occur, it is a sign that, perhaps, the trucking company is prioritizing delivery speed over safety. 

How Does an Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney Help Clients Prove Liability?

It is not always simple to prove that a commercial truck driver was fatigued at the time of the accident. However, if an injury victim cannot prove that the truck driver acted negligently, then that person would not be able to recover damages for his medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. 

Large, commercial trucks contain equipment that measures and records the hours that the vehicle is being driven. The federal regulations that govern large truck safety precautions are clear about the necessity for a truck driver to take frequent enough breaks and to sleep a minimal number of hours. By showing that the driver failed to sleep the requisite number of hours in a given day, an experienced Atlanta truck accident attorney serves the needs of their client. 

Other drivers on the interstate or a pedestrian may have seen what occurred in the moment that the accident took place. These witnesses can play a crucial role in reconstructing what occurred in the accident. The severity of the car accident may have rendered the injured driver incapable of properly reconstructing what occurred. Without the perspective of a witness, the injured driver may not be able to recover an appropriate amount of damages for the harm he has suffered. 

Contact an Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney For a Free Case Review

The talented Atlanta truck accident attorneys with Mabra Law fight for the rights of their clients. For more information on how to begin a truck accident case, contact our office today.