Fatigued Truck Driving is Extremely Dangerous and Results in Fatalities in Missouri and Illinois

Our Missouri truck accident lawyers were in attendence last week for another APITLA (Association of Plaintiff's Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America) conference in St. Louis Missouri. All of the injury attorneys working for Schultz Legal Group are proud members of APITLA. The organization is dedicated to protecting the rights of innocent victims of serious and fatal semi-truck accidents in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas. APITLA is limited solely to plaintiff lawyers, as it should be. In our opinion, anyone who can consciously defend a rogue or reckless trucking company when they kill or cripple someone on our roads is beyond understanding. This particular seminar was three full days focused on fatigued truck driving, and the dangerous results of what happens when a tired truck driver continues to rack up miles on the road.

When it comes to fatigued trucking driving, it is not a matter of "if" but a instead a matter of "when" a driver causes a fatal 18-wheeler crash. Driving over the hours of service is just one way a truck driver can become fatigued. There are MANY other ways this can occur. Many truck drivers are overwieght and have high blood pressure or diabetes. This is just the nature of the industry unfortunately. A lack of physical activity behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer leads to poor health habits. Obesity can also be a precursor for sleeping problems such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder that keeps a person from obtaining the high-quality REM sleep necessary to fire on all cylinders the following day. Many truck drivers fail to realize a problem with sleep apnea, which can be controlled with a CPAP machine or other breathing device.

Truckers sometimes use over-the-counter "sport supplements" such as 5-Hour Energy, 6-Hour Power, Yellow Jackets, and even the prescription narcotic Aderrall. All of these medications can result in a brief period of alertness followed by a "crash" and extreme fatigue. Fatigue and trucking do not mix well, and we all have read about the fatal semi-truck crash that seems to take place about once a month in Missouri and Illinois. A tired trucker can cause head-on truck crashes, or side-swipe accidents that can force another motorist off the roadway and into a median or worse, oncoming traffic.

If you are injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, don't wait another day to contact a Missouri truck accident injury attorney at Schultz Legal Group. The sooner we are able to get involved and file motions to protect evidence, the greater your chances are at obtaining justice in your case and fair compensation for ALL of your damages. Our lawyers can be reached live at (866) 840-3636 for an immediate case consultation.