Truckers Speeding, Drugging and Fatigue – Accidents in the Making

When experts reconstruct a crash scene to determine causation, they often conclude that crashes are a result of various factors. Driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition, traffic signaling, and weather conditions can all play a role as can events immediately prior to an accident such as a decision to pass another motorist on the highway or a tire blowout. When you add in factors such as driver fatigue, speeding, and alcohol or drug consumption on top of driver errors, vehicle failures and environmental conditions, the risk of a crash increases dramatically.

Fatigue, drinking alcohol, and speeding are major factors in motor vehicle crashes overall. In a national study conducted of 141,000 truck accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities over a 33 month period, 23% percent were believed to have been traveling too fast for conditions; 17% were under the influence of over the counter drugs as a factor; 3% revealed illegal drugs and alcohol consumption and 13% factored in for driver fatigue. These major accident factors of speeding, fatigue, and drug or alcohol use combined with driver failures such as inattention or following too close, vehicle failures such as cargo shifts or brake malfunction and environmental conditions such as ice or congested highways are often a recipe for disaster.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a truck driver or other motor vehicle, contact the Des Moines Law Offices of John T. Hemminger for help. John has successfully handled hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death claims for over 30 years. With extensive experience in negotiations and trial, he can help you recover the full compensation you will need if you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck accident.