According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety, one of the most common causes of truck accidents is fatigue. When truck drivers deprive themselves sleep, their ability to react and make good judgment calls becomes seriously compromised. As a result of the alarming number of accidents caused by fatigue and sleep deprivation, laws related to Hours of Service (HOS) are becoming more strict and require that truck drivers make enough time to rest and sleep.
A lot has been said about the HOS regulation regarding the 34-Hour Restart period. While many in the industry feel that this rule isn’t accurate, others simply disagree. It is, however, important to know that this is not the only sleep-related issue that is being observed by safety advocates in the industry.
It is important to remember that trucking accidents can be complex and it is best to contact a Corpus Christi trucking accident lawyer as soon as possible. A Corpus Christi trucking accident attorney is experienced in obtaining important information needed immediately after an accident.
Lack of Sleep And Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed every year in the United States as a result of truck accidents. In 2017 alone 4,102 fatalities were recorded. An astonishing 20 percent of these accidents are related to truck driver fatigue. These alarming statistics show that truck drivers in America are just not getting enough rest and sleep, and this is often due to their busy schedules and tight deadlines.
HOS Regulations and the 34-Hour Restart Rule
To drastically reduce the number of trucking accidents in the United States, the FMCSA and Congress passed a strict law that will ensure drivers get enough Hours of Sleep and restrict daily driver hours. This law essentially gives a mandatory 34-hour break to truck drivers to ensure they get two consecutive overnight rest hours as they are more likely to sleep well overnight. However, critics of this law say it interrupts driver schedules and means more trucks will be on our roadways during rush hour. As a result, this regulation has been temporarily suspended.
Sleep Apnea and Quality of Sleep
Apart from the 34-Hour Restart Rule, another sleep concern safety advocates are observing is Sleep Apnea. According to The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FMCSA, reports show over 28 percent of truck drivers have sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder that affects the quality of sleep and leaves one feeling tired even after a full night sleep. Disrupted sleep can decrease a truck driver’s cognitive function and can cause increased daytime sleepiness, which leads to truck driving accidents. Truck drivers are more likely to develop sleep apnea due to the inability to exercise and the lack of access to healthy foods while on the roads.
Sleep Compliance
Sleep compliance is another issue that causes sleep-related trucking accidents. Even with the strict regulations in place, drivers cannot be forced to actually sleep during their off periods. It is completely up to drivers to maximize their off time and ensure they have enough rest.
Contact a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been hurt in a trucking accident in Corpus Christi, Texas or anywhere else in Texas, speak to trucking accident attorney, Minesh J. Patel, at the Patel firm PLLC as soon as possible. Only a personal injury attorney skilled in trucking accidents and one with the right resources can properly investigate, gather, interpret, and present all the evidence needed to recover the compensation you deserve after a trucking accident in Corpus Christi, Texas or anywhere else in Texas. Contact The Patel Firm PLLC’s Corpus Christi personal injury law office today. You can call or email the Corpus Christi personal injury lawyers The Patel Firm PLLC at any time. 24/7/365, someone at The Patel Firm PLLC is ready and waiting to speak with you. Reach out to us today.
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