People are right to be afraid of getting into motor vehicle accidents with commercial trucks and rightfully so. Some of these vehicles can weigh anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 pounds! These big rigs also tend to be less maneuverable, which makes it hard for them to avoid stopped vehicles or obstacles in their paths.
While truck drivers are usually well-trained to deal with most situations, they are also usually facing a deadline. Federal guidelines have been put in place to help keep commercial truck drivers from working too many hours straight. Before these regulations were put in place, many truck drivers would be encouraged to pull all-nighters, relying on coffee and other stimulants to keep awake.
Despite the limits on the amount of time truck drivers can drive, approximately 13% of truck drivers were fatigued at the time of their crash, according to a Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCSS). Fatigue is defined as extreme tiredness, usually resulting from mental or physical exertion. During the course of their duty, a truck driver must be on high alert, looking for danger. Further, operating an extremely large and heavy vehicle while confronted with smaller vehicles on the roadway can be quite a challenge. This kind of constant attention is exhausting, even during a shorter shift.
Drowsy driving can be dangerous, even for smaller vehicles. However, because trucks are so enormous and can crash with tremendous force, their collisions tend to have a higher death rate, especially when smaller cars are involved in the collision.
The injuries that result from truck accidents can also be extreme. For example, big rig accidents can often lead to permanent brain damage, severe spinal cord injuries, or even wrongful death. These catastrophic injuries can not only take years of surgery and rehabilitation, but they might result in a permanent disability that could prevent people from holding a regular job. Quadriplegia, for example, can cost the average 25 year old person more than $2 million in medical bills, rehabilitation costs, house remodeling, and lost wages over the course of his or her lifetime.
If you’ve been injured by a drowsy or fatigued truck driver, don’t hesitate to call us. Adler & Manson has more than sixty-five years of collective legal experience in personal injury law to offer your case. We have been assisting the victims of negligence for years and have helped many people obtain the compensation they deserve. Let us put our skills and legal knowledge to work on your behalf. Call our experienced Kansas City truck accident attorneys today.
Contact us at (816) 333-0400 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation with us.