Tired Truckers Could Be To Blame For Many Florida Truck Accidents

With close to 2,800 collisions in 2009, Florida is ranked 12th in the nation when it comes to fatal and nonfatal truck crashes. That is not a very reassuring fact when you live in Florida. A truck accident can cause massive devastation and the ones hurt the worst are generally in the passenger vehicle.

There are many factors associated with truck accidents, including brake problems, drug use and speeding, but there is another common cause of these crashes that has drawn a lot of attention. Tired truckers have been known to cause deadly truck accidents in Palm Beach and throughout Florida. The Truck Safety Coalition, a truck safety advocacy group comprised of truck accident victims, believes that drowsy truckers are a major problem.

Federal and state rules exist that govern how long a trucker can operate a rig before taking a rest. The federal hours-of-service regulation permits truck drivers to “drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.” Truckers are also allowed to drive up to 60 hours in a seven-day period. However, just like any other regulation, there are people who break this rule.

The Truck Safety Coalition uses a story of a Union County truck accident that killed seven children, to illustrate the dangers of fatigued truckers. Investigators noted that the trucker, except for a brief nap, had been awake for more than 34 hours before the deadly Florida truck accident. The tractor-trailer had rear-ended a car carrying children. This tragic accident brings awareness to the dangers of trucker fatigue.

If you have been injured in a truck accident in Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County or Martin County, the experienced Palm Beach truck accident attorneys at Fetterman & Associates – the Law Team can help you. Contact our office today at (866) 865-1244 for answers to your questions.

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