Falling asleep at the wheel is a common cause of major Missouri truck accidents. Smartmotorist.com reports that in 2007, fatigued drivers caused 18 percent of fatal accidents. In an attempt to prevent driver fatigue, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) has created regulations for commercial drivers. Commercial motor vehicle drivers may only drive for 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours of being off duty. These safety regulations ensure that truck drivers have had sufficient rest and relaxation before they get back on the road. Fatigued truck drivers in Missouri are a significant threat on the roadways and cause numerous serious injury and fatal collisions on our nation’s roadways each year.
The government has also been taking steps to mandate companies to educate their drivers about these safety regulations. Recently the government requested Whole Foods to conduct similar education programs for their truck drivers. In October 2005, a Whole Foods tractor-trailer rolled over on the Highway 94 in Wisconsin causing a collision with a motor coach that killed five and injured 35 others. Federal officials determined that the Whole Foods truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. The investigation also determined that the driver had not taken sufficient rest during the time period leading to the accident.
As truck accident lawyers in Missouri, we have come across many situations where truck drivers deliberately falsify logs so they can be on the road for more time. At Page Law, our attorneys are trained to detect discrepancies in the logs and determine whether negligence or wrongdoing on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company was involved in causing the crash. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck collision due to driver negligence or fatigue, you need an experienced and knowledgeable Missouri negligent truck driver accident lawyer to ensure your rights are protected. Please call Page Law at (314) 322-8515 to schedule your free consultation and case evaluation.
