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Truck Driver Fatigue Lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama

According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, there were more than 10,000 truck accidents statewide in a recent year. These collisions resulted in 2,629 injuries and 121 deaths. While there’s no single cause of truck crashes, one of the most common causes is driver fatigue. 

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident caused by a drowsy or fatigued driver, contact the Alabama truck accident lawyers at the Serious Injury Law Group right away. Our firm focuses solely on personal injury cases, giving us in-depth knowledge and focus that helps us obtain better results for our clients. Get your free initial consultation by using our online chat service, calling our office, or visiting our contact page.

What Is Truck Driver Fatigue?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) describes fatigue as “the result of physical or mental exertion that impairs performance.” Fatigued driving is especially dangerous for truckers who are operating large and complex vehicles.

Large trucks can weigh 30,000 pounds or more and maybe more than 50 feet long with a trailer attached. This means truck drivers need to be fully alert whenever they’re behind the wheel. If a truck driver is fatigued, their driving performance will be compromised, making an accident much more likely.

What Causes Truck Driver Fatigue?

There are many different factors that can cause a driver’s fatigue, including: 

  • Not getting enough sleep before getting behind the wheel
  • Certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea
  • Sleep aids and other medications, prescribed legally or not
  • Drivers abusing alcohol or narcotics
  • Overly onerous employer work schedules or delivery deadlines

Why Truck Driver Fatigue Can Lead to Accidents

Driver fatigue makes a truck accident more likely in many different ways. Some of the major reasons fatigue contributes to truck accidents are:

  • Dulled reflexes – If a truck driver is fatigued, their reflexes are slowed, which means they can’t respond as quickly in the event of an emergency situation while driving.
  • Impaired cognition – When someone is fatigued, their brain can’t process information as quickly. Unfortunately, driving a truck is a complicated task that requires truckers to be aware of many things at once, including their speed and direction, which route to take, the actions of other vehicles around them, and if they need to turn or change lanes. If a truck driver can’t process all this information fast enough, they’re much more likely to end up in an accident.
  • Faulty judgment – When we’re fatigued, we’re much more likely to make bad decisions that can lead to a crash. This is especially true of truck drivers, who must be extremely careful while handling their vehicles. A truck driver’s wrong decision could lead to a crash and even death.
  • Falling asleep at the wheel – The most obvious and dangerous effect of driving while fatigued is falling asleep at the wheel. Even if the driver only closes their eyes for a few seconds, they could drift out of their lane and cause a crash. 

What Are the Signs of Truck Driver Fatigue?

If you’re driving around large trucks, especially at night, here are some warning signs that may indicate the truck driver is fatigued:

  • The truck drifting within its lane or into another lane
  • The truck hitting the rumble strip between traffic lanes, or between traffic and the road shoulder
  • Erratic turns
  • Inconsistent speeds
  • The truck failing to use its signals when turning or merging
  • The truck failing to stop at a red light or other intersection
  • The truck following too closely behind other vehicles

Steps You Should Take After a Truck Driver Fatigue Accident

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident with a fatigued driver, here’s what you need to do after calling 911:

  • Collect evidence from the scene – Take pictures of your vehicle, the truck that hit you, and the area around the crash site. Photos from the accident scene are often crucial pieces of evidence in a personal injury claim.
  • Ask witnesses for their contact information – If anyone else saw the crash, get their name, phone number, email address, and other contact information. You may want their testimony later on to support your claim for compensation.
  • Follow your doctor’s orders – Once you’re taken to the hospital or see a doctor, follow their instructions to the letter. If not, your claim for compensation could be reduced or denied entirely.
  • Stay off of social media – Don’t say anything in public about the accident, including on social media. You don’t want to give any potential ammunition to insurance companies looking to deny your claim.
  • Talk to a lawyer as soon as you can – Truck accident cases are complicated because they often involve multiple liable parties and there’s more at stake because of the severe injuries involved. Talk to a lawyer who can help protect your rights. 

How To Prove Truck Driver Fatigue

To claim compensation for your injuries after a truck accident in Alabama, you’ll need to show that the driver or another party was negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries. You’ll need strong evidence to back up your claim, such as:

  • Police accident reports
  • Your medical records
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Evidence from the scene of the accident
  • The truck driver’s toll receipts
  • The truck driver’s personal logs
  • Information from the truck’s electronic data recorder
  • The truck driver’s personnel file from their employer

The more evidence you have and the better its quality, the better your chances are of getting the money you need after the crash. 

How Our Birmingham, Alabama Attorneys Can Help You After a Truck Driver Fatigue Accident

Proving a truck accident case can be tricky. The driver and their employer will push back against any claim that they were negligent. Here are a few ways the Serious Injury Law Group can assist you with your case:

  • Identifying who was negligent and should be held responsible for your injuries
  • Gathering evidence to demonstrate the physical, financial, and emotional harm you’ve suffered as a result of the accident
  • Engaging in aggressive settlement negotiations with the liable parties and their insurance companies
  • Bringing your case to trial if a fair settlement can’t be reached

At Serious Injury Law Group, our Birmingham truck accident lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you won’t owe us anything until we win your case. Call us or reach out to us online for a free consultation now.