Fatigued truck drivers are a significant danger on roadways in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When a truck driver is exhausted, even a momentary lapse in judgment can cause a truck crash. Understanding these accidents can help you take the next steps toward recovery.
If you’ve been in a wreck with a tired truck driver, call Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers at (954) 361-3997. You can set up a free consultation with one of our Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyers. We have decades of combined experience representing injured Floridans like you. We have also recovered over $40 million in compensation. Contact us today!
How Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After A Truck Accident
Fatigue-related truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale, FL, can be complex. If you’ve been in one of these accidents, Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help. We take a comprehensive approach to investigating and advocating for these claims.
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers can support your case by:
- Analyzing data from electronic logging devices (ELDs), driver logs, and dispatch records
- Reviewing GPS and route tracking to identify unsafe driving patterns
- Examining company scheduling practices that may encourage drivers to violate hours-of-service rules
- Working with accident reconstruction experts to determine what caused the crash
- Consulting with medical professionals to document the extent of your injuries
- Calculating the full value of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Negotiating with trucking companies and insurers for a fair settlement
- Litigating aggressively when necessary
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a fatigued truck driver, don’t wait to get help. Contact our Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Fatigued Truck Driving Is So Dangerous
Truck drivers operate vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds. When a driver is tired, their ability to safely operate their vehicle is compromised.
Fatigue affects drivers in several harmful ways:
- Slowed reaction time
- Impaired judgment
- Reduced coordination
- Inability to maintain lane position
- Microsleep episodes lasting several seconds
- Increased likelihood of drifting, swerving, or failing to brake
Even the slightest error can cause catastrophic results when a truck is involved. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys understand how devastating they can be. They are ready to help you recover the compensation you need to move on.
Common Causes of Truck Driver Fatigue in South Florida
Many truck drivers suffer fatigue due to the demands of the industry. Federal regulators have identified truck-driver fatigue as a leading cause of serious crashes. In Fort Lauderdale, several factors combine to create a risk of fatigue, including:
1. Violations of Hours-of-Service Rules
Federal Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations limit the amount of time commercial drivers can be on the road without rest. However, many drivers face pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines. This leads to rule-breaking and dangerously long shifts.
Common HOS violations include:
- Driving more than the allowable 11 hours after a 10-hour break
- Failing to take the required 30-minute rest periods
- Exceeding the 60/70-hour weekly limits
Fatigue accumulates quickly when a driver ignores these rules. Cellphone records, electronic logging devices (ELDs), and trip receipts can reveal these violations.
2. Pressures from Trucking Companies
Drivers often feel pressured to meet strict delivery schedules. Some companies overload drivers with back-to-back routes, leaving little time for rest. Others reward drivers for completing deliveries ahead of schedule, indirectly encouraging unsafe behaviors.
Trucking companies may be legally liable for placing profits over safety.
3. Medical Conditions That Cause Sleep Deprivation
Some truck drivers suffer from undiagnosed or untreated issues that affect their driving. Sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and other disorders can lead to fatigue even when drivers technically comply with HOS rules.
Employers may have failed to properly monitor, screen, or evaluate drivers in such situations. This oversight can potentially lead to liability.
4. Long Florida Driving Routes and Nighttime Driving
Florida’s long, flat highway stretches can lull drivers into a false sense of security. Driving at times when the body naturally wants to sleep increases the risk of drowsiness.
Environmental fatigue triggers in Florida include:
- Long monotonous stretches of highway on I-95 and the Turnpike
- Hot and humid weather leading to dehydration
- Overnight deliveries from ports and distribution centers
Many fatigued-driving crashes occur in the early morning, between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., when alertness is at its lowest.
Proving Fatigue in a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Case
Fatigue can be a critical component of proving negligence. An experienced Florida truck accident lawyer knows how to uncover crucial evidence.
To prove driver fatigue, a lawyer may gather:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data
- GPS records showing hours on the road
- Fuel receipts, toll records, and weigh-station timestamps
- Video from inside the cab (when available)
- Dispatch records and delivery schedules
- Medical records or medication history
Our team knows how to preserve evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured by a fatigued truck driver in Fort Lauderdale, you do not have to navigate the process on your own. An experienced Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer can protect your right to compensation. Contact Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
