Let's be honest, it is very easy to get tired while driving home from work after a long day; though we know that after just that 20 minute or hour commute we will be able to walk in our front door and put our feet up; even for just a moment. Unfortunately, the majority of truck drivers don't have that luxury as they will be behind the wheel of their truck for hours on end. According to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 there were 80,000 trucking accident related injuries reported and another 3,500 deaths that same year. When contrasted to the statistics gathered from the previous year, the total fatalities jumped by 8.7%. Because of this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) claims that 13% of all trucking accidents can actually be linked back to driver fatigue.

A tragic accident that occurred two years ago proves case and point. The truck driver was speeding and likely tired and hit a car on the highway. According to the investigators reports he was driving at least 70 mph when the incident happened. Just this March the driver went before the court and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of these victims agreeing to his fatigue and speeding. While statistics like this are very real, the American Trucking Association, Inc. continues to deny that fatigued driver regulations are absolutely necessary, and they claim that if they enforce new regulations it will cost too much and not really help with road safety. The primary reason behind their lack of action is because they claim that the statics given by the NHTSA are inaccurate and that only about 2% of accidents are fatigue driver related.

What makes drowsy driving so dangerous is the fact that it not only decreases your ability to think clearly and focus on the road, but it also negatively affects your reaction time as well. Because of this very reason, tired driving is just as dangerous, if not more so, than someone who is driving behind the wheel intoxicated. That may seem like a bold statement, however recent studies are pointing out the fact that it is very real indeed. Sleep deprivation can cause even the most mundane of tasks to become difficult, and this is especially dangerous when a drier is operating a 40 ton big rig across the country. The reason sleep deprivation is often very common with truck drivers is because of the fact that they are trying to meet a delivery deadline, and when this means being penalized with their boss or not, they will often drive longer to make sure the job is done.

However, in 2003, the FMCSA realized that drivers were going much too long behind the wheel in a days' time, and therefore they determined that there needed to be certain regulations in order to keep them off the road after driving for 11 consecutive hours a day. This regulation also includes that every week a driver must have at least two nights in a row off as well as 36 hours of rest during their work week. Unfortunately, this still may not be followed if the pressures from their employers outweigh their feeling so tired. Trucking accidents caused by fatigue can be caused by both driver error, which is responsible for their actions, as well as employer error because of their failure to follow the necessary regulations.

In the event that you or someone you know has been injured in a trucking accident, contact a personal injury attorney in your area for the legal representation you deserve. You do not have to stay the victim, fight for your rights and contact an attorney today.