Drowsy Driving Truck Accidents

Drowsy driving is a pervasive problem in the trucking industry. Despite federal hours-of-service regulations that limit driving time, many truck drivers are pressured by tight delivery schedules to drive while fatigued. Drowsy driving impairs reaction time, judgment, and awareness, making it comparable to drunk driving. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) now track driving hours, but violations still occur. When a truck driver causes an accident due to fatigue, both the driver and the trucking company that set unrealistic schedules can be held liable.

Common Injuries

• Traumatic brain injuries from unbraked collisions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Multiple bone fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Severe whiplash
• Wrongful death from high-speed impact

Key Facts

• Drowsy driving is a factor in approximately 13% of all truck crashes
• Federal hours-of-service rules limit drivers to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window
• Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving
• ELD data can be critical evidence in proving drowsy driving claims
• Trucking companies can be held liable for pressuring drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits
• Studies show that being awake for 18 hours impairs driving as much as a 0.08 BAC