Most everyone has driven when they were too tired, but when it’s the operator of a heavy tractor-trailer, the danger becomes particularly lethal.
That’s why the federal government limits the amount of time truckers can stay on the road without a break.
Unfortunately, economic pressures from trucking companies and corporations force too many drivers to break the rules.
The situation is so common that truck drivers frequently refer to their driver’s logs as “comic books.”
Injured by a Fatigued Trucker? Call Our Truck Wreck Lawyers Today
At Joye Law Firm, we work to hold trucking companies responsible for demands that result in irresponsible and reckless driving. If you’ve been seriously injured in a tractor-trailer accident, call Joye Law Firm and get our South Carolina truck accident attorneys to fight for you. You can reach us at (888) 324-3100 or fill out an online form for a free case review.
Joye Law Firm has offices in Charleston and Myrtle Beach, and our tractor-trailer accident attorneys are ready to handle your case anywhere in South Carolina. We represent clients all over our state, including Florence, Richland County, Orangeburg, Columbia, Horry County (including Conway and North Myrtle Beach), North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville.
Experience Counts
The attorneys at Joye Law Firm have more than 150 cumulative years of litigation experience, and our firm has earned the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell’s highest ranking, AV. Several of our attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers.
Results for our previous clients include a $4.375 million settlement for a man who received facial and head injuries in a tractor-trailer wreck; two $3.86 million settlements for the families of two men killed in a truck accident; a $1.025 million settlement for a man severely injured in a collision with a big rig; and a $975,000 settlement for a man who injured his back in a truck crash.
While every case is different, and past results are in no way intended to guarantee that a similar result can be obtained in another case, past results obtained by a law firm are an indication of the firm’s experience when it comes to serious injury and wrongful death cases. For more details about the results obtained for previous Joye Law Firm clients, please click on the Results tab on our home page.
Truck Driver Fatigue Affects South Carolina Highway Safety
According to a study in the Journal of Public Health, 37 percent of surveyed commercial truck drivers said they had driven more than the weekly hours-of-service limit of 60 hours over seven days or 70 hours over eight days during the past two months. Nearly 1 in 5 truckers admitted that they had fallen asleep at the wheel at least once during the prior month.
That’s a scary thought when you consider the potentially destructive force of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer.
Nearly 2,000 accidents involving big trucks happened on South Carolina’s roads in 2009, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration figures, and roughly one third involved driver fatigue.
What Causes South Carolina Truck Driver Fatigue?
There are many reasons why truck drivers may become tired while behind the wheel. One of the key factors is that truckers are paid by the mile, not the hour, creating an incentive to go as far as possible as quickly as possible. That, coupled with trucking companies and shippers setting unrealistic pick-up and drop-off times, motivates some drivers to go beyond their legal and physical limits.
Wanting to make up time after bad weather or traffic jams also pushes truckers to break the rules and drive until they are fatigued. Sometimes it’s as simple as a driver wanting to make it home after a long haul.
In addition to the sheer number of hours spent driving, the time of day is also critical. Data from the Federal Highway Administration suggest that drivers are more likely to become fatigued in the overnight hours because they are working against their natural sleep rhythms.
Another problem facing truckers is a shortage of truck stop facilities nationwide. Local officials are increasingly rejecting requests by truck stop owners and developers to open additional facilities for long-distance truckers, according to the Journal of Public Health. This shortage forces truckers to drive past the point of fatigue in order to find a place to stop and rest.
Contact Our South Carolina Fatigued Truck Driver Accident Lawyers Today
If driver fatigue was to blame for your serious injuries in a South Carolina truck accident, you can rely on our attorneys to work to get you the money and benefits you deserve. Call Joye Law Firm at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
