Delaware Trucking Accident Lawyers: 20/20 Report Documents the Dangers of Fatigued Truck Drivers

A new report reveals some alarming information regarding commercial truck drivers. Drivers of big rigs are often pressured by their employers to continue to drive, often ignoring their level of fatigue. Many truckers will comply for fear of losing their jobs. Sadly, this unnecessarily puts many innocent people at risk of being involved in a trucking accident.

The burden of delivering freight on time may also cause many truck drivers to drive while fatigued. Moreover, commercial truck drivers only are paid when they are driving. This creates an additional incentive for truckers to continue driving regardless of their sleep-deprived state. In some instances, truck drivers go so far as to falsify information regarding their rest and break times in order to continue operating their big rig.

ABC News program, “20/20,” recently spotlighted a news story on the real hazards of tired truck drivers. The program includes a report of one trucker calling in to his employer to report he was too tired to drive and had to pull off the road and stop. In this instance, two company dispatchers told the trucker to drink some coffee and get back behind the wheel, while a third threatened discipline if the employee did not comply. Luckily, in this case a trucking accident didn’t occur, but the company’s response to a sleep-deprived employee was eye-opening and disturbing.

Driving when tired can result in catastrophic injuries if a fatigued driver is behind the wheel of a big rig on U.S. roadways. Sleep-deprivation is one of the trucking industries most significant safety issues. Sadly, many truckers continue to engage in this behavior to keep their jobs and bring home a paycheck for their families.

Truck Accident Lawyers at Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP Represent Trucking Accident Victims in Pennsylvania and Delaware

If you or your loved one has been involved in a trucking accident in Pennsylvania or Delaware and have suffered serious bodily injury or death and/or property damage to your automobile, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. For more information about what to do after a truck accident in Pennsylvania and Delaware, or to discuss how you can recover damages in a truck accident lawsuit, call the Delaware accident lawyers at Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP at (302) 295-5050 or toll free (800) 300-0909 or submit an online inquiry to set up your free initial consultation.