Most Alabama residents know that an accident involving a semi truck or other large commercial vehicle can be extremely dangerous. The sheer weight and size of these massive vehicles alone can make the risk of being involved in a crash with them even more grave than with other vehicles.
Many things can contribute to crashes involving tractor trailers. Vehicle malfunctions like when brake systems fail may be factors in some crashes. Poor driver judgement may also result in accidents. Examples of bad judgement include speeding or tailgating. Driving while fatigued may also be another form of poor judgement on the part of a trucker. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 40 percent of all semi truck collisions identified as serious may be attributed to driver fatigue.
Around the southern region two crashes on subsequent days in North Carolina are putting new focus on the problem of fatigued truckers. Both crashes occurred on freeways, one on Interstate 95 and the other on Interstate 85. It is not known if anyone was injured or killed in these accidents but tired drivers have been identified as contributing factors in both cases. Technology offers trucking companies some ways to monitor trucker behavior but has yet offered a solution that may prevent a tired trucker from getting behind the wheel in the first place.
People who are injured in accidents caused by fatigued truck drivers in Alabama may want to discuss their situation with a lawyer. This can give them insights into how to seek compensation.
Source: WNCN.com, “Pair of NC truck crashes in 2 days focuses attention on driver fatigue,” Steve Sbraccia, Nov. 23, 2016
