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On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, NBC-2 reported that a semi caught fire on I-75 near the Golden Gate Parkway exit. Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported that the truck driver, who was heading south, fell asleep at the wheel just before 2:30 a.m. The 51-year-old driver had serious injuries and was cited for careless driving. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that in the United States approximately 31 percent of truck accidents are caused by drowsy driving. Truck drivers often work throughout the night. Since they do so, they have an increased risk of dosing off. Because it takes trucks a longer time to stop, even falling asleep for a short time is dangerous.

Drowsy driving is a major problem in the United States according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). “The risk, danger, and often tragic results of drowsy driving are alarming. Drowsy driving is the dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue.” Further, the CDC warns that fatigue usually happens when a driver does not get enough sleep or because of sleep disorders, medications, shift work, or alcohol consumption.

In their report, “Cognitive Components of Simulated Driving Performance: Sleep Loss Effects and Predictors,” M. L. Jackson, R. J. Croft, G. A. Kennedy, K. Owens, and M. E. Howard reported that a lack of sleep:

• Makes drivers less able to pay attention to the road.
• Slows reaction time if you have to brake or steer suddenly.
• Affects a driver's ability to make good decisions.

The Obama Administration truck driver hours of service (HOS) provision is currently in effect. It allows truck drivers to drive up to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. As a provision of the U.S. Senate Transportation Spending bill, “Tired Trucker” may be adopted that would allow truck drivers to drive up to 73 hours in 7 days. (Section 131 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill (S. 2844).

The New York Times reported in 2014 that 15 percent of all heavy truck crashes involve truck driver fatigue and happen when federal hours of service are not adhered to.

Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. says, “Accidents involving semi-tractor trailers, dump trucks, and large trucks all too often can result in catastrophic injuries or death. Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers consult with the best trucking experts in the state of Florida in order to determine how the accident occurred and how it could have been avoided. Unfortunately, we often find that these truck accidents easily could have been avoided if the trucking company had not chosen to put profits ahead of safety in its list of priorities. It is this type of negligence that drives us to represent victims of trucking accidents.  We help accident victims to hold truckers and trucking companies accountable for their actions in causing injuries and even death to others.”

Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.