When you’re sharing the road with a massive commercial truck, you trust that the person behind the wheel is alert, focused, and capable of reacting quickly to changing conditions. But what happens when that driver has been on the road for too many hours without rest?
Fatigued truck drivers pose a serious threat to everyone around them. In Tennessee, the consequences of driver fatigue can be catastrophic.
If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by an exhausted trucker, a Knoxville truck accident lawyer can help you know your rights and what legal options are available to help you recover.
Fatigued Truck Drivers and Federal Hours of Service Regulations
Truck driver fatigue is dangerous because exhaustion affects a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safely in critical ways. Drowsy drivers experience delayed reaction times, impaired judgment, reduced attention to their surroundings, and, in severe cases, may even fall asleep at the wheel.
Given the size and weight of commercial trucks, these lapses can result in devastating accidents with catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
Recognizing these risks, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established Hours of Service regulations to prevent driver fatigue and promote safety on our roadways:
- Truck drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- They cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty following their 10-hour rest period, and off-duty time does not extend this 14-hour window.
- Drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption, which can be satisfied by any non-driving period.
- The regulations also impose a 60- or 70-hour limit on duty time over 7 or 8 consecutive days, though drivers may restart this period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
Common Causes of Driver Fatigue in the Trucking Industry
Despite these federal regulations, truck driver fatigue remains a persistent problem throughout the industry. There are many reasons why drivers get behind the wheel while drowsy, such as:
- Pressure to meet delivery deadlines
- Untreated sleep disorders
- Inadequate rest between shifts
- Financial incentives tied to mileage or speed
- Lack of proper oversight by trucking companies
- Use of stimulants to stay awake
- Driving during natural low-energy periods
Recovering Compensation After a Fatigue-Related Truck Accident
If you’ve been injured by a fatigued truck driver, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages.
You can file a personal injury claim against the truck driver and potentially their employer if the company contributed to the fatigue by imposing unreasonable schedules or failing to enforce hours-of-service compliance.
You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the accident.
Contact a Tennessee Truck Accident Attorney Today
You are dealing with serious injuries, lost wages, and a long road to recovery—all because a trucker chose to get behind the wheel when they were too exhausted to drive safely.
The Lawyers of Brown & Roberto know how to investigate truck driver fatigue cases, from obtaining logbooks and electronic driving records to proving violations of federal hours-of-service regulations.
We will hold the driver and their employer accountable for failing to uphold their duty of care.
Contact us at (865) 413-3907 today for a free consultation, and let’s start building your case right away.