Call Us atThe trucking industry is a vital part of the economy, but the pressure to meet delivery deadlines often leads to drivers exceeding the legal hours of work or ignoring the signs of exhaustion. Truck drivers are often subjected to grueling schedules and tight deadlines, which can lead to fatigue. By ignoring the symptoms, these drivers put everyone on the road at risk. Driving while feeling drained and tired can be more dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you were hurt in a traffic accident due to a truck driver’s exhaustion, you need to know your legal options. Dealing with the mental, physical, and financial hardship after a serious collision can be overwhelming if you attempt to handle it alone. Our team of truck crash attorneys is committed to lifting the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on healing and recovery. Contact us to learn the steps you can take to secure financial compensation from a fatigued truck driver in a Bothell accident.
Causes and Consequences of Exhausted Semi Drivers
Many truckers have to move large amounts of goods over lengthy distances and for extended periods of time. Like any other worker, drivers get exhausted and stressed from working long hours. However, serious repercussions can result from their exhaustion. Some commonly seen causes of driver fatigue include:
- Skipping out on sleep to continue driving
- Driving in the last hours of a long shift
- Exhaustion
- Coffee or other stimulants losing their effect
- The stress of potentially losing a paycheck or job if a deadline is not met
While there are regulations in place governing how many hours truck drivers can work every week and requiring specific rest periods, a trucker may not always follow these rules. Both surrounding motorists and truckers alike can suffer life-changing pain due to a crash involving a large vehicle. Their injuries can include:
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken bones
- Orthopedic injuries to the back, neck, and hips
- Emotional trauma
- Death
Significant injuries mean significant bills. Getting medical care right away is the most important first step, but holding someone accountable who was at fault for the accident is your legal right. Our experienced Bothell truck accident lawyers can guide you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve to recover from your injuries caused by a trucker’s exhaustion.
Proving a Fatigued Truck Driver Caused the Crash
In order to win an injury lawsuit, a person and their attorney need to prove the other side was negligent. To prove someone was negligent, four factors must be met:
- The at-fault party had a duty of care to act in a manner that avoids causing harm to others
- The at-fault party failed to uphold their obligation and caused harm to others
- The plaintiff suffered harm because of that breach of duty of care
- The breach of standard of care directly caused damages
Proving that a trucker breached that obligation by driving while fatigued (or perhaps their company breached it by forcing the trucker to push through their exhaustion) can be complicated. A skilled Bothell attorney can reconstruct the scene of the crash on your behalf to show that the truck driver’s tiredness caused your injuries.
Getting Compensation After a Truck Crash with an Exhausted Trucker
When a person proves the other side was negligent, they will be able to win financial recompense to cover their losses. There are two main categories of compensation: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are monetary losses. They include costs like present and future medical bills, lost wages, and loss of property.
In comparison, non-economic damages are non-monetary losses and are more subjective concepts. They could include loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering in performing daily activities, and emotional trauma.
A less common type of damages, called punitive damages, are designed to punish the defendant and to deter future similar action. They are usually at the court’s discretion.
It is vital to remember that the statute of limitations for a truck accident involving a fatigued driver in Bothell is two years from the date of the accident. That means a person cannot receive damages if they try to pursue a case more than three years after the crash.
Trucking companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents, and lawyers to help protect their assets and minimize the amount of money a person can receive. An injured person deserves to have a legal team by their side, too.
Contact A Bothell Attorney After a Fatigued Truck Driver Crash
Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of semi-truck collisions. Truck drivers are under huge pressure to meet deadlines, get paid, and keep their jobs, but their vehicles pose a significant risk to everyone else on the road. People in the smaller cars are the ones who are more likely to get hurt. After a fatigued truck driver in a Bothell accident, you need to hire legal counsel. Call us today to schedule an evaluation of your case.
