Accident Facts
A late night semi truck accident proved fatal for the unnamed driver on June 28. The single vehicle accident involved a truck that flipped over between the Chatham and Lynes Parkways in the westbound lanes of Interstate 16 in Savannah, Georgia. The tractor-trailer reportedly took out roughly 150 feet of guardrail and some small trees before coming to a stop.
Comments from The Trucking Attorneys
Although the cause of the accident has not yet been released, it is likely that driver fatigue is the culprit in this late-night wreck. As we reported in this blog on sleep-deprived truckers, 14% of truck drivers report that fatigue caused them safety issues on the job. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that about 100,000 crashes and 1,800 fatal accidents involve fatigued truck drivers.
Fatigue is a proven danger for truck drivers and those with whom they share the roadways. What’s worse, accidents caused by driver fatigue are usually preventable.
Hours of service regulations limit the number of hours truckers are allowed to drive. However, trucking companies regularly require their drivers to cover distances that cannot be safely traveled within their hours of service (HOS). Additionally, most truck drivers are only paid by the number of miles they cover, so they are financially incentivized to drive for longer than they’re legally allowed. Often, companies overlook it when their drivers drive longer than they should, and some even encourage drivers to exceed their hours. This is not just illegal; it is a hazard to every vehicle on the road.
What Do You Think?
How can the issue of truck driver fatigue be decreased? Is it up to legislators to write stricter laws regarding the number of hours truckers can drive? Or should more responsibility be placed on the trucking companies or individual drivers for solving the problem?
Injured in a Truck Accident? Contact The Trucking Attorneys.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident that involved a semi truck or professional truck driver, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact The Trucking Attorneys today for a free consultation during which we can discuss your legal rights and options. Our attorneys are highly experienced and successful at obtaining the maximum verdicts on behalf of our clients. View our case results here.