How can truck driver fatigue be addressed?

We all feel tired and over-worked sometimes. When this happens, we typically take a break and recover. Unfortunately, not everyone in California takes the time to do this. And, when it comes to truck drivers, this can be a very dangerous situation. Truck driver fatigue is a very risky situation as it not only means the risk of a truck driver falling asleep at the wheel but could also mean an accident involving multiple vehicles.

How can truck driver fatigue be addressed? Truck driver fatigue is primarily related to issues with hours of service. Federal trucking regulations were passed to address truck drivers driving too many hours without a break. Regulations were also passed to set a cap when it comes to the amount of hours worked in a workweek.

While these regulations have worked to reduce the number of truck accidents caused by fatigued truck driving, these incidents still occur. Thus, new approaches have been devised to determine when and if a truck driver is in fact fatigued. A monitoring system has been suggested and, if used, this could keep record of any signs of fatigue. In turn, if this technology is adopted, it could help establish whether a truck driver was fatigued at the time of an accident.

When individuals are harmed in a truck crash, it is important for them to understand what rights and options they have. If a negligent truck driver or truck company is to blame, an injured victim could take legal action. A personal injury action not only helps place liability on the party at fault but also helps with the recovery of a monetary award.