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Commercial truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel. When fatigue sets in, it can lead to dangerous situations, greatly increasing the risk of an accident. To combat these risks, the federal government has adopted rest requirements designed to prevent truckers from staying on the road too long.
Unfortunately, fatigued truck drivers in Henderson accidents are still commonplace. When these operators fail to adhere to the resting guidelines, it can be a sign of negligence. Let a skilled truck accident attorney assist you with holding them accountable.
Fatigued truck drivers are often a factor in accidents in Henderson. Operating these massive vehicles takes patience, skill, and specialized training. From slow response times to extensive blind spots, driving a commercial truck can be hard for someone completely focused on their job.
This task only becomes more difficult when a trucker is tired. Fatigue slows a driver’s response time, which can be the difference between braking in time to avoid a crash and colliding with a stopped car in their path.
Fatigue also impairs judgment. When a truck driver needs to make a split-second decision to avoid a road hazard, they are more likely to make the wrong choice when exhausted. Their ability to assess risks can also be significantly diminished.
While being tired is a part of being human at times, there are also situations where a driver’s actions can lead to unnecessary levels of fatigue. In these cases, their actions could rise to the level of negligence. When a negligent person is at fault for a crash, they can be held liable for any damage they cause.
One of the most obvious ways to connect fatigue to negligence is by proving that the truck driver violated federal law regarding rests and breaks. There are limits on the number of hours a driver can stay on the road each day and week without taking short or long breaks. If their logs show they drove past their mandatory stopping point, it could be used as evidence of negligence following a fatigued driver truck accident in Henderson.
There are other ways to establish negligence beyond proof of violating work hour requirements. For example, fatigue can set in due to the use of certain prescription or over-the-counter medications. Taking these substances might not rise to the level of a DUI, but they could increase the risk of fatigue behind the wheel.
When fatigued truck drivers cause an accident, they could be on the hook for the financial, emotional, or physical harm that follows. These losses are frequently substantial due to the tremendous size of a commercial truck. Some of the damages that could be available include the following:
With the help of legal counsel, it could be possible to recoup some or all of these losses after a crash.
You have the right to seek compensation, and a commercial driver is responsible for your injuries. Pursuing legal action in these situations can be stressful on your own, but help is available. Contact an attorney who fights for Nevada victims to support you following fatigued truck drivers in Henderson accidents.