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Some deadly trucking crashes linked to fatigue

On Behalf of | Apr 18, 2019 | Truck Accidents |

West Virginia motorists may be particularly worried about the dangers of truck accidents, because crashes involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles are far more harmful to the occupants of smaller vehicles. The size and mass of large trucks mean that anyone in a crash with them is at a significant risk for a serious injury. In addition, the nature of the trucking industry can also contribute to the likelihood of an accident. After a long day on the road, even experienced truck drivers can become fatigued behind the wheel.

Federal trucking regulations are designed to prevent the most serious forms of truck driver fatigue. Truckers are limited to 11 hours on the road as part of a maximum 14-hour workday. Of course, even 11 hours driving a large truck can be exhausting, and in some cases, trucking companies encourage log book violations. The results can be devastating for those drivers as well as occupants of other vehicles.

Trucking safety has been highlighted due to some prominent accidents around the country. In many areas, industries like oil refining are heavily reliant on trucks for supplies as well as shipping out their products. In one area where the oil industry is prominent, two deadly accidents have drawn attention to the dangers posed by truck crashes. In both cases, a semi-truck crossed over the center line to ram into another vehicle head-on, killing the other driver.

Big rig accidents are often caused by driver fatigue, poor maintenance, or other types of negligence. Occupants of other vehicles who have been harmed might want to have the help of an attorney when seeking compensation for their losses.