The demands of long-haul trucking can leave drivers exhausted, increasing the risk of serious collisions. Commercial truck drivers have the reputation of sacrificing sleep and rest breaks, whether it’s to move cargo as quickly as possible or to log as many hours as they can. This practice, however, puts everyone else on the roads at risk.
Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of semi-truck crashes in Illinois and across the country. These collisions can be catastrophic, often resulting in serious injuries for those struck while traveling in smaller passenger vehicles.
Sleep deprivation affects judgment and reaction time, so when a truck driver experiences fatigue, it can severely impact their ability to operate a vehicle. Driver fatigue can cause:
- Drifting between lanes or off the roadway
- Delayed reaction times
- Failure to slow down or stop in time
- Following too closely and misjudging distance
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Missing traffic signals or road signs
- Failure to use turn signals and unsafe lane changes
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and require intense focus on driving and steering. Driving while fatigued can result in a rear-end collision, jackknife incident, or multi-vehicle crash.
When facing catastrophic injuries caused by a fatigued semi-truck driver, having a skilled attorney by your side – like our team at Spiros Law – is crucial for recovery. Together, we will seek justice for their momentary lapse in judgment that has caused you a lifetime of harm.
Types of Evidence Used to Prove Truck Driver Fatigue
When it comes to a semi-truck collision, responsibility can extend beyond the truck driver.
The driver’s trucking company may share liability, and they will be ready to fight with their own insurance companies and legal teams to minimize liability. Fighting them on your own will often lead to a lower settlement, which means less compensation to cover your medical bills. The team of experienced commercial truck accident lawyers at Spiros Law will know what evidence can strengthen your case. Examples of evidence to prove truck driver fatigue in 18-wheeler and large commercial truck cases can include:
GPS and the Truck’s Black Box Data
GPS and telematics data from the truck’s black box can also help demonstrate driver fatigue. For instance, GPS data can verify how long the driver had been on the road before the crash. Black box data can reveal delayed braking, inconsistent speed, and other details related to the driver’s actions.
Traffic and Dash Camera Footage
Video proof from traffic cameras or dash camera footage can serve as evidence of liability and potentially be some of the strongest evidence available.
Witness statements
Any witnesses at the scene can provide information on the truck driver’s behavior, including if they were drifting, swerving, or failed to stop before the crash.
No Brake Marks
The absence of brake marks could be strong evidence in your truck crash claim. The driver may not have left skid marks before the impact, which suggests they didn’t react in time or fell asleep.
Federal Regulations to Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue
To help prevent fatigue-related accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations. These rules dictate the maximum number of hours a truck driver can be on duty and behind the wheel before they must take mandatory rest breaks. The current regulations limit drivers to 11 hours of driving time within a 14-hour workday, followed by at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
Common violations include:
- Skipping mandatory rest breaks
- Forging logbooks to meet requirements
- Mislabeling driving time as off-duty time
- Driving over the legal hour limits
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) have made it more difficult to falsify records, but violations still occur. These devices are now required on most commercial trucks and are used to accurately record a driver’s hours of service. This technology helps enforce compliance with HOS regulations and prevents drivers from falsifying their records.
While these regulations are meant to reduce the number of truck crashes caused by driver fatigue, they are not always followed properly. Some truck drivers may go over their allowed hours of service, falsify logs, or commit other violations. Trucking companies may also encourage drivers to bend or break the rules to increase profits by delivering cargo as quickly as possible.
Trust Spiros Law to Represent You After a Semi-Truck Collision
Semi-truck accident claims often involve complex federal regulations, extensive evidence, and multiple potentially liable parties. Acting quickly can be critical because trucking companies may be in possession of evidence that should be preserved.
Our Illinois personal injury lawyers investigate commercial truck crashes, gather critical evidence, and work to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable. We understand the devastating impact these collisions can have on victims and their families.
We do not shy away from taking on commercial truck insurance companies and their legal teams, and we are committed to representing clients and fighting for their legal rights.
If you were injured in a commercial truck incident in Illinois and believe driver fatigue may have played a role, contact Spiros Law to discuss your legal options. Whether you’re an Illinois resident or your injury occurred while passing through, our team is available to help with offices conveniently located in Champaign, Danville, Kankakee, and Mattoon.
