Truck drivers play a vital role in transporting items to homes and businesses throughout the state of Illinois. However, those who do not operate their vehicles in a safe manner may put the lives of other motorists and pedestrians at risk. Let’s take a look at some of the specific dangers associated with truck driver fatigue.
Tired drivers may have trouble reacting to changing road conditions
A motorist who is tired may not notice that traffic is slowing down or coming to a stop. Therefore, that driver may not slow down, come to a stop or take other actions to avoid a collision before it is too late. In some cases, a commercial truck may simply collide with another vehicle at full highway speeds.
A fatigued driver may actually fall asleep while a truck is moving
Commercial drivers may think that they can keep themselves awake long enough to reach their next destination. However, at some point, the human body will force itself to go to sleep regardless of what it is doing. If a driver falls asleep while behind the wheel, there is nothing that they can do to avoid a collision or avoid going off of the road. In either scenario, there is a potential for a significant truck accident that may lead to serious injuries or the deaths of multiple people.
If you are hurt in a crash caused by a negligent truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Driver statements, dashcam videos and other lines of evidence may be used to show that the accident was caused by the reckless actions of another person. Depending on the facts of your case, it’s possible that multiple parties will be held liable for any damages that you incur.
