Truck drivers take precautions to ensure that their driving is as safe as possible. Still, truck accidents resulting in personal injury sometimes occur in New Jersey. Many causes may lead to these accidents, including truck driver fatigue. Read on to get a closer look at truck driver fatigue and how it causes accidents.
Reasons behind truck driver fatigue
It is easy to become tired when you drive for long periods of time, especially if you are not receiving the amount of sleep that you need. There are other causes of fatigue, though, including:
- Bodily illnesses ranging from infections to cancers
- Certain medications
- Alcohol or drug use
- Working outside normal hours
Many truck drivers overexert themselves to drive as much as possible. This is often due to the pay schedule of payment per mile.
Truck driver fatigue consequences
Personal injury and truck accidents are common consequences of truck driver fatigue. Driver fatigue leads to lack of attention and poor decision-making abilities, which can both result in accidents.
After the accident
Unfortunately, it may be possible that you get into an accident due to truck driver fatigue and face a personal injury. If this is the case, your first step should be to call emergency services and report the accident to local authorities. If you have a personal injury, speak to the medical authorities and receive the care that you need. Also, make sure to contact your insurance company and speak with a lawyer to discuss your case.
Final thoughts
If you experience a truck accident due to truck driver fatigue and find you have an injury, contact a lawyer today. They could help you receive your personal injury compensation so that you can cover your medical expenses.