Whether fatigue is caused by a late night out with friends, a newborn, or a late shift at work, it has the ability to affect a Georgia resident’s quality of life. If a drowsy individual gets behind the wheel, the driver may wreak havoc not only the lives of other drivers but also on the lives of their loved ones.
Why are truckers involved in more accidents?
Peak sleepiness periods are between midnight and six in the morning, which is also when crashes, including truck wrecks, are the most common. Truck drivers often drive throughout the night, operating their vehicle at the time when sleepiness is at an all-time high.
Truckers also have unhealthy habits, which make them more susceptible to illnesses that affect their sleep. For example, remaining sedentary for long periods and consuming unhealthy fast food can lead to obesity, which is a leading cause for sleep apnea. Drivers who do not sleep properly at night will be sleepy during the day, increasing their chances of causing a crash.
Proving drowsy driving accidents
It is not always easy to determine if drowsiness was the cause of a crash, because there is no conclusive evidence. For example, looking at a phone’s logs can show if someone was using the phone right before a crash, but no such identifying factor exists for drowsiness. However, crash investigators can track a vehicle’s movements and try to locate footage around the time of the accident.
Truck drivers are regulated by federal and state laws, and trucking companies are supposed to vet their drivers. When they fail to do so and a truck wreck happens, the company and the trucker may both be held accountable for their negligent behavior.
