Fatigued Truck Drivers in Nashville Accidents

Many people are familiar with the dangers of driving while intoxicated, but driving while fatigued can be equally dangerous. When tired, a driver can have similar difficulties noticing, processing, and reacting to what is happening on the road around them.

In particular, fatigued truck drivers in Nashville accidents are a frequent problem. The amount of time truck drivers spend on the road makes them more likely to become fatigued, and the increased size of the vehicles they operate makes serious injuries more likely when they are involved in collisions.

After you have experienced an injury because of a truck driver’s careless or negligent actions, a seasoned tractor-trailer collision attorney at Ponce Law could help you pursue the compensation you need to recover.

Maximum Driving Time for Truckers

It can be difficult to determine whether a truck driver’s fatigue is what caused a collision on Nashville’s roads. Unlike intoxication, there is no test that can be administered after the fact to show that the driver was overly tired.

However, the federal government has enacted regulations that limit the number of hours a truck driver may be on the road. These rules help to provide an objective standard for how long a trucker may drive before fatigue becomes a factor; 49 Code of Federal Regulations § 395.3 says that:

• A truck driver cannot operate a vehicle after a period of 14 consecutive hours of being on duty
• A truck driver may not begin a shift without first having been off duty for at least 10 consecutive hours
• During any one shift, a truck driver may not operate the vehicle for more than 11 hours
• A truck driver may not operate the vehicle for more than eight consecutive hours without a 30 minute break

These rules do not compensate the person injured by a truck driver; they simply provide punishments for the driver. However, an experienced attorney may be able to use a truck driver’s violation of these rules as evidence of the driver’s fault in a personal injury case, where the injured person does have the potential to receive compensation.

What to Do After a Crash Caused by a Drowsy Driver

Anytime you are involved in a collision with a semi-truck in Nashville— regardless of whether you know if the truck driver was fatigued—there are steps you should take to remain safe and retain your legal rights. The exact actions to take vary depending on the situation, but in general, some best practices include:

• Take an inventory of your injuries before moving
• See if anyone involved in the crash needs immediate medical attention
• Alert the appropriate authorities
• Move off the roadway to eliminate the chance of further damage from passing cars
• Document the scene of the wreck as much as possible by taking pictures with your cell phone
• Ask for the truck driver’s contact and insurance information, as well as information regarding their employer
• Do not apologize for the wreck or make any statements that could be construed as accepting responsibility for the accident
• Do not post any photos or statements about the crash on social media

After the wreck, seek medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible. Even if your injuries do not seem severe, additional symptoms may develop as the adrenaline from the crash dissipates. Moreover, getting medical care right away makes connecting your injuries to the accident easier, which will help any future legal claims.

Seek Help from a Nashville Attorney After a Collision With a Fatigued Truck Driver

Asserting your legal rights against a large trucking company can be difficult and intimidating. But if you were injured due to the truck driver’s careless or dangerous actions, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.

Ponce Law has experience handling fatigued truck drivers in Nashville accidents and could help you stand up to the trucking company, protect your rights, and receive the compensation you deserve.

Schedule an initial consultation today to learn more about what options may be available in your situation.