As a trucking safety trial attorney in Atlanta, Georgia, I often see how truck driver fatigue contributes to 18 wheeler, semi truck accidents. I’ve seen tragic cases where truckers tried to make it from Milwaukee to Tampa without required rest breaks, cases where truck drivers crashed when they fell asleep…
Articles Posted in Truck driver fatigue
Trucking safety issues addressed by FMCSA director
As a trucking accident trial attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, I try to keep up with trucking safety issues at the national level. The latest development was a statement last week by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration director Ann Ferro at a U.S. Senate subcommittee. Some of the high points…
Witnessed fiery truck crash in New Mexico
As a trucking accident trial attorney in Atlanta, Georgia, I often litigate about trucking accidents. As a seminar speakers, I often talk about them at continuing legal education seminars around the country. On this blog, I frequently write about them. But last Sunday, I saw one. While helping my son…
Another family killed when rear-ended by a tractor trailer
No matter how often it happens, the useless tragedy is never less shocking. About 4 AM last Friday on I-65 in Indiana, a family of five was killed when a tractor trailer rear-ended their vehicle which had slowed for traffic Several years ago, something similar happened to a family in…
Legislation would require Electronic On-Board Recorders in all interstate trucks in 4 years
As long as truck drivers for interstate motor carriers have been required to log their driving, on duty and off duty time, falsification of logs has been common. Some drivers — though certainly not all — have regarded their logs as “comic books.” We have unraveled webs of deception to…
Obesity and sleep apnea a double threat for trucking safety
Obesity is a big risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, which is a huge risk for drowsy drivers causing crashes. And long days of sedentary, solitary work, legally driving up to 11 hours in a 14 hour work day, with no easy access to either healthy food or a place…
Sleep apnea in truck drivers linked to obesity
Truck driver fatigue is one of the most obvious causes of truck crashes. Obstructive sleep apnea is among the most common contributing factors. Obesity is a big risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. Now there is another study reconfirming the obvious: that obesity-driven testing strategies identify commercial truck drivers with…
Scrambled eggs freeze to road in tractor trailer accident
Today a tractor trailer accident on a frozen Michigan highway spilled a truckload of eggs when the driver fell asleep and crashed. The spilled eggs broke, scrambled and froze on the concrete. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. This reminds me of a case we had on I-75 in south…
Obesity, sleep apnea, driver fatigue and trucking safety
New Year’s resolutions — mine included — often include aspirational goals for improved fitness and weight loss. As a trucking accident attorney in Atlanta, Goorgia, that perennial promise to myself is also a reminder of the relation between obesity, sleep apnea and dangers in interstate trucking. Fortunately, Weight Watchers now…
Yawning Danger – call to take truckers back to 10 hours driving per day
Truck driver fatigue as a cause of major tractor trailer accidents is an old story. As a trucking trial lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, I have seen it too many times. In today’s Baltimore Sun, there is an editorial, “Yawning Danger,” urging the incoming Obama administration to overturn the hours of…