Maryland Fatigued Driver Accident Lawyers

Fatigue Related Truck Accident

Commercial truck drivers often travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to transport cargo, be it watermelons, livestock, or boxes of printer paper and each time, the driver must transport the cargo from one place to the other according to a specific delivery schedule. Unfortunately, the delivery time table is often unrealistic. In other instances, pay bonuses or other perks may be offered for quick deliveries. In either case, a truck driver may speed, make unsafe turns and lane changes, and/or drive without rest or sleep, for extended periods of time to reach their destination on schedule or to get that pay bonus. When big rig drivers operate their trucks while drowsy or fatigued, it increases the risk of a serious truck accident.

Risks of Driving While Fatigued or Sleepy

A truck operator may become sleep and/or rest deprived if he or she is not getting enough sleep, not taking rest breaks, or not getting quality sleep. Any of these can cause fatigue during waking hours when he or she is supposed to be driving. Fatigue and/or drowsiness can seriously impede a truck driver's physical and mental performance, which may result in:

• Slower reaction times;
• Difficulty turning;
• Lane drifting or unsafe lane changes;
• Falling asleep at the wheel;
• Veering out of control;
• Over-steering;
• Under-steering;
• Sudden acceleration or slowing; and/or
• Improper braking.

Driving while fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs and, as with alcohol or drug abuse-related accidents, can result in serious injury or fatal crashes.

Federal Hours-of-Service Regulations

Truck driver fatigue is recognized as a legitimate safety issue, which is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict rules about how long commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers can stay behind the wheel. These rules are established under the Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations. Property-carrying CMV drivers must follow these general HOS rules:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit - Limits driving to a maximum of 11 hours during the 14-hour duty period; may not drive again until after 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
• 14-Hour On-Duty Limit - May not drive after 14 consecutive hours on-duty; only after 10 consecutive hours off-duty may a truck operator drive again. However, driving is limited to the 14-hour duty period, even if off-duty time is taken during the 14-hour period.
• 60/70-Hour Duty Limit - Prohibits driving after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A truck operator may drive again once on-duty hours are below the 60/70-hour limit for 7/8 consecutive days, but can also restart the 7/8 consecutive day cycle by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

Violating these regulations may result in the truck driver being removed from duty, possibly indefinitely if the violation resulted in an injury or fatal crash.

Holding Fatigued Big Rig Drivers Responsible

If a truck driver operates a big rig while fatigued, he or she is placing the safety of all other motorists in jeopardy. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Maryland tractor trailer crash that was caused by a fatigued truck driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation. At Alpert Schreyer, our experienced Bowie fatigue truck accident lawyers can help you hold the at-fault party responsible in civil court in order to obtain the compensation you need to recover from your injury. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us today for a free consultation at 1 (800) 489-1577.