Truck driver fatigue is a serious issue, often leading to devastating accidents. If you have been involved in a crash with a commercial truck and suspect driver fatigue played a role, it is important to gather evidence to support your claim. An Illinois lawyer can walk you through the steps to prove truck driver fatigue and protect your rights.
What You Should Know About Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck driver fatigue can result from various factors, including long hours on the road, inadequate rest periods, sleep disorders, medication side effects, and demanding schedules and deadlines. These factors can significantly impair a driver’s judgment, slow reaction times, and even lead to microsleeps behind the wheel.
The effects of fatigue on driving performance are similar to those of alcohol impairment. A driver who has been awake for 18 hours straight experiences impairment equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%. After 24 hours without sleep, this increases to the equivalent of 0.10% BAC – well above the legal limit for driving.