It is not uncommon for drivers in California to encounter multiple tractor-trailers while using the Interstate and other roadways. While the vast majority of tractor-trailer drivers are well-trained, experienced professionals, some show a careless disregard for the safety of others, resulting in dangerous truck accidents. Unfortunately, accidents involving a tractor-trailer and a smaller vehicle can have serious, even deadly, consequences for those in the smaller car. In many cases, the driver of a tractor-trailer is unharmed.
In fact, some estimates show that there were 4,000 fatal truck accidents across the country in 2013. In 2012, over 300,000 accidents in the country involved a tractor-trailer. An increasing number of people are starting to become concerned about the impact of fatigue on the driver’s ability to avoid an accident.
For example, some reports indicate that the recent accident involving Tracy Morgan was caused by a driver who had not slept in 24 hours. Some estimate that the vast majority of truck accidents are caused by a tired driver. In some cases, driving logs have been found to be falsified.
Unfortunately, many people have lost loved ones or suffered serious injuries as a result of a truck driver’s negligence. When driver fatigue is suspected, an experienced California attorney can help their clients sort through the facts of a case and help determine the most appropriate course of action. Many victims of truck accidents have chosen to seek legal recourse in a civil court. Such an action could result in an award of monetary damages if negligence can be proved.
Source: pix11.com, “Fatigue among tractor trailer truck drivers a growing threat on U.S. highways“, Dan Mannarino, Nov. 24, 2014