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Truck Driver Fatigue

Silver Spring Driver Fatigue Truck Accident Lawyer

Experienced Silver Spring, MD Truck Accident Attorney for Driver Fatigue Crashes

Americans rely on tractor-trailer trucks as an integral part of the supply chain. These large trucks transport goods across the nation to stores, manufacturing facilities, and homes. Driving these massive vehicles takes skill and dedication. Long hours on the road, tight shipping schedules, and traveling overnight often lead to excessive driver fatigue, which can increase the risks of a dangerous accident.

If you are involved in a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver, you will want to understand the steps you can take to recover compensation. Because of the complex laws that affect commercial vehicles, these cases can be very challenging to handle alone. Fortunately, a skilled attorney from Whitlock Law, LLC knows how to overcome these challenges, and we can help you collect the highest possible amount of compensation you deserve. Se Habla Español.

The Dangers of Truck Driver Fatigue

Fatigue that affects truck drivers is likely to be more severe than just being tired after an eight-hour shift. It is often bone-deep, causing significant impairments that make driving unsafe. In fact, studies have shown that being fatigued is similar to being drunk. Impairments may include:

Sluggishness
Blurred vision
Difficulty concentrating
Poor judgment
An increased likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel
Diminished motor control
Slow reflexes

It is risky enough to drive a passenger car when fatigued, but the dangers are much more significant for operators of semi-trucks. These enormous vehicles can weigh 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. They are around 72 feet long and 13.5 feet tall. Tractor-trailers require more time and distance to stop than cars traveling at the same speed, and their impact force is much stronger due to their weight. When a truck collides with a car, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian, it is capable of producing catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

In some cases, a trucking company may have encouraged a driver to violate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours of service regulations to meet pickup or delivery deadlines. In other cases, the driver may have attended to personal business before beginning their shift. Whatever the reason, fatigued driving is dangerously negligent behavior. As such, it may qualify you for compensation.

You may be compensated for lost wages, medical expenses, ongoing care, property damage, pain and suffering, disability, losing the ability to enjoy life, and other eligible losses. Your attorney from Whitlock Law, LLC knows how to calculate your damages accurately, and we will not advise you to accept less than you should.

Challenges in Truck Driver Fatigue Claims

If a car causes a crash, it is likely that its driver is at fault. Commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, have several potentially liable parties, such as:

The driver
The trucking company
The truck’s owner or leasing company
Cargo loaders
Truck maintenance companies
Parts manufacturers

An investigation is often necessary to determine why and how truck accidents happen. Without an investigation, you will not have the evidence needed to establish liability and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Multiple-party liability is not the only challenge you could face. The pure contributory negligence laws in Maryland and Virginia bar you from recovering compensation if you are partly responsible for causing your crash. Insurance companies often attempt to avoid paying claimants by manipulating the assignment of fault. They might also deny your claim, offer insultingly low settlement amounts, or use other underhanded tactics to take advantage of you.

Your lawyer from Whitlock Law, LLC will investigate your crash, identify the at-fault parties, and help you obtain the compensation you deserve. We will not let insurance companies get away with treating you unfairly.

The Whitlock Difference

When you choose Whitlock Law, LLC, you are never just a case number. Attorney Whitlock will always go the extra mile to see you get the medical care you need and the case results you deserve. As the firm’s owner, she has handled and won hundreds of cases, often taking reluctant insurance companies to court when other attorneys would have settled. She has tried cases successfully in Baltimore, all Maryland counties, and most Virginia counties. If you want personal attention from a lawyer who will always put your best interests first, call us today.

Call Our Silver Spring, Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer for Driver Fatigue

You should not be left to pay the price for a negligent truck driver’s behavior. Contact us at 301-565-1655 for your free consultation. We are available to take your call 24/7. Whitlock Law, LLC serves clients throughout Maryland and Virginia, and we do not charge fees unless we win.

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