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Accidents Caused By Truck Driver Fatigue

We admit it: Personal injury lawyers haven’t always had the best reputation. But there are a lot of good things that personal injury lawyers have done. One of them is keeping tired drivers off of America’s roads.

The lawsuits brought by attorneys throughout the United States have sent a clear message to trucking companies: cutting corners and making truckers drive while tired is simply not acceptable.

Unfortunately, it’s still necessary to keep sending the message. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck driver fatigue causes 15 percent of fatal truck accidents each year.

Doing Our Part To Hold Truckers Accountable

At the Carter Law Offices, located in Kanas City, our truck accident attorneys are doing our part to keep tired drivers off the road. Our law firm was founded on a simple idea: If you put the right lawyers with the right experience and the right focus on the case, you can make a difference. You can be on the right side. And you can win.

If you were injured in a truck accident caused by driver fatigue, call 816-897-7772 now for a free consultation with Carter Law Offices in Kansas City.

Since 1996, we have been winning for our clients. Establishing a record of favorable settlements and jury verdicts, we continue to work hard for our clients in every personal injury case we accept.

Many cases involve drivers who were under pressure from their employers to finish their routes by any means necessary. This includes skipping rest breaks, driving longer hours than allowed and even taking stimulants — like speed or cocaine — to stay awake. Our thorough pretrial investigation can reveal the true causes of the accident and help achieve the best possible results in truck accident cases.

Drivers With Sleep Apnea

Truck drivers have to jump through many hoops to get their commercial driver’s licenses (often called CDLs). If drivers have a condition called sleep apnea, they should have to pass through strict screening and evaluation, meeting especially strict requirements before they can get behind the wheel.

Unfortunately, some drivers find their way around the strict requirements. They don’t do the things they should to keep other drivers safe. The result? They put other drivers’ safety at risk and cause serious truck wrecks on roads throughout the United States.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when pauses in breathing occur during sleep. These pauses — apneic events — last long enough so that one or more breaths are missed. Sleep apnea can cause sleeplessness and lead to driver fatigue during the day. It can also cause other health problems. It can be life-threatening if combined with heart trouble.

Many drivers have sleep apnea. In fact, a 2002 study estimated that nearly 33% of commercial truck drivers suffered from mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Lifestyle factors associated with being “on the road” account for many truck drivers having sleep disorders.

Attorney Doug Carter knows about sleep apnea firsthand because at a time in his life when he was heavier and smoked, he was diagnosed with the condition. Despite that diagnosis, Mr. Carter maintained his pilot’s license. Doing so required rigorous testing and compliance. Because he knows what it takes to be compliant, he knows when drivers are cutting corners and putting others at risk.

We Would Like To Hear From You

At the Carter Law Offices, we have spent the last decade-and-a-half focusing on one thing: getting the best possible results for our clients. To do this, we must conduct thorough investigations in trucking accident cases. We work with well-qualified experts and review truckers’ employment records to spot any problems. When we have reason to believe that there was an issue, we discover the answers.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a fatigued truck driver, our experienced attorneys are here to help. To arrange a free initial consultation at our law office in Kansas City, contact us online or call 816-897-7772.