Trucks are a frequent sight on the Florida roads. This is especially true during the holiday season when there will be a significant spike in deliveries. While there are common road dangers that can spark a collision such as speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving and driving under the influence, truckers are also vulnerable to drowsy driving. This can cause a collision with injuries and fatalities. Avoiding them is, of course, the best-case scenario. Unfortunately, that is not always possible. With that, it is imperative to know what steps to take after an accident has occurred.

Drowsy driving is garnering greater attention from drivers and instructors

The need for truckers to take a break when on the road is garnering increased attention. This stems from a recent accident in Florida that is believed to have happened due to a trucker falling asleep behind the wheel. In the aftermath, instructors and fellow truckers emphasized the potential risk of driving when drowsy. Based on federal law, drivers can be on the road for 11 out of 14 hours after having been off-duty for 10 consecutive hours. Those experienced in trucking point out how important this is for safety. Simply feeling tired warrants a break regardless of the amount of time the driver has spent on the road.

In the Florida crash, the truck ran into a second semi-truck that was stopped on the shoulder of the roadway. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that drowsy truckers cause approximately 13% of truck crashes each year. In addition, driving is not the sole cause of tiredness. Making their delivery and unloading it is physically arduous. Driving a large truck also taxes a person mentally. This contributes to feeling drowsy and should be assessed when determining if a break is needed even if it is before the legally required mandate for rest.

Determining the cause of a truck accident is vital when weighing options

Truckers are required to travel great distances within a certain time-frame. This may lead to a temptation to flout the rules for how long they can stay on the road. Those in smaller vehicles are especially vulnerable to injuries and loss of life in truck accidents. However, given their size and speeds they go, any accident can be severe. For assistance with investigating the case, seeing if drowsiness was a factor and moving forward with pursuing compensation, having advice is essential from the outset.

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