Sleep apnea is a condition that can cause lack of restful sleep, making truck drivers who have it more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Truck driver fatigue in Missouri and throughout the nation is a major problem with regard to sleep apnea as one cause in some instances. Yet despite increased research on sleep apnea and the dangers of driving without proper sleep, many businesses in the trucking industry have yet to implement ways to protect drivers and other motorists from the risks of sleep apnea, according to a recent article in Fleet Owner magazine.
The risks of sleep apnea for tractor-trailer drivers were highlighted in a Texas case in which a trucking company settled with a family after one of its drivers, who had been diagnosed with sleep apnea, fell asleep at the wheel, causing an accident that took the life of a Texas man. It is believed that the trucker had refused to treat his sleep apnea, and that his employer had not followed up with him regarding his care.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that up to one-third of commercial truck and bus drivers suffer from sleep apnea, a relatively common condition. While not all people who have sleep apnea are unable to drive safely, the risks of unsafe driving are increased when one is behind the wheel of a large vehicle, like a fully-loaded semi truck.
Driver fatigue causes several truck accidents each year, often with devastating results. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck crash, the experienced Missouri truck accident attorneys at Page Law can help. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free case evaluation.
