When truckers drive exhausted, they put everyone at risk. Work with a Spokane fatigued driving truck accident lawyer and get the compensation you deserve for the trucker’s poor decision to drive while drowsy.

There are approximately 438,000 commercial truck accidents every year in the United States—many of which involve truck drivers who were driving exhausted and fell asleep behind the wheel. If you were hurt by one of these negligent drivers, you should speak with a Spokane fatigued driving truck accident lawyer from Craig Swapp & Associates.

 

Fatigued Driving Statistics

The trucker who hit you may have fallen asleep at the wheel or been driving drowsy, making it difficult for him or her to stay on the road or react appropriately to changing traffic conditions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in twenty-five adults has fallen asleep at the wheel within the last thirty days. This is an incredibly alarming and dangerous statistic because it only takes a split second for a tired driver to cause an accident.

Reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration find that over 72,000 accidents are caused annually by drowsy driving. Additionally, at least 6,000 traffic fatalities are caused annually by drowsy or sleeping drivers.

 

Truck Drivers at Greater Risk of Exhausted Driving

Statistically, truckers are more likely to drive fatigued because of how long they stay on the road and the likelihood of them driving at night.

Laws are in place mandating that truckers take a certain amount of time to rest. These regulations require that truckers are only on the road for eleven out of fourteen hours. However, a three-hour break is not very long, and just because a trucker is not physically driving, it does not mean that he or she is going to sleep.

Additionally, there is an exception for short-haul truckers, allowing them to drive for up to sixteen hours in any given day, thereby increasing the risk of these drivers becoming overly fatigued.

These laws are in place to protect everyone on the road from the dangers of a truck driver falling asleep at the wheel. Unfortunately, they are not always effective, nor do all truck drivers follow them.

 

Your Rights After an 18-Wheeler Wreck

If you were hurt in an 18-wheeler accident that was the fault of a truck driver, you have the right to sue him or her and potentially even the trucking company involved. When you come in for your free consultation, we will discuss your case in detail and work to determine fault. This will dictate who can be named in your personal injury lawsuit.

 

Seeking Compensation for a Drowsy Driving Crash

When valuing your case, we will calculate all of the expenses that you have incurred and all of the financial losses that you have suffered due to your accident. These may include any of the following that apply to your case:

  • Wages lost due to taking time off from work to recover
  • Emergency and ongoing medical bills
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
  • Repairs to your vehicle or the cost of a new one
  • Caregiver expenses
  • Cost of retrofitting your home to accommodate a disability
  • And more

 

Get Help from a Spokane 18-Wheeler Crash Attorney

Do not delay in speaking with a Spokane fatigued driving truck accident lawyer. We can discuss your case in detail with you, answer your questions, and provide you with legal guidance on how best to proceed.

You can schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Craig Swapp & Associates by calling 1-800-404-9000 or by completing our contact form below.