Truck drivers have a responsibility to those on the roads in smaller vehicles. They need to be alert and awake behind the wheel. They need to pay attention, and they need to stay sober. As more trucks hit the roads thanks to a recovering economy, it’s more important than ever that drivers are safe.
The problem in America is that trucks are getting more dangerous. As the trucking industry pushes the government to loosen regulations, it means that drivers get less sleep, fewer breaks and push themselves to the limits. That can result in serious injuries and deaths as a result of collisions.
Trucking-related deaths dropped to a low during the recession, but now that the economy has recovered, the number of accidents has again begun to rise. In just four years, between 2009 and 2013, there was an increase of 17.3 percent. In addition, Congress has been quietly allowing restrictions and regulations on the industry to loosen. The lobbyists for the trucking industry want to see longer hours allowed, larger trucks and trailers, or even heavier weight limits.
All of these wishes could end up being deadly to others on the road. Combined with the fact that over two-thirds of truck drivers are obese and prone to chronic sleep apnea, which makes them more likely to drive drowsy, this poses an intense threat to those on the road.
If you’re hit by a driver who has been pushed to work too much or who was distracted behind the wheel, you can seek compensation. Your injuries are a result of negligence, and you can start a claim.
Source: HuffPost, “Trucks Are Getting More Dangerous And Drivers Are Falling Asleep At The Wheel. Thank Congress.,” Michael McAuliff, accessed July 21, 2017
