Big rigs are heavy, large, and can cause catastrophic injury and damage in the event of a truck accident. Though car accidents happen on a daily basis, they are much less likely to result in fatalities than a big rig. For this reason, it is essential that truck drivers are driving as safely as possible – and this requires that they are getting enough sleep.
You may have heard that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving but wondered why that is. Keep reading to learn about three of the reasons that drowsy truck drivers can cause serious damage. If you have been injured in this or another type of accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
1. A Drowsy Driver Can Be Easily Overloaded
When a person is well rested and healthy, it is easy to tell the difference between reality and a hallucination. However, when a driver has not had enough sleep, they may have trouble with regular tasks such as driving. In fact, a truck driver may actually react to something that is not on the road at all. This is caused by sensory overload, which can happen when a person does not get enough sleep.
2. Drowsy Drivers Have Poor Decision-Making Abilities
A driver must make what seems like a million decisions a minute. They must decide when to slow down, when to change lanes, when to hit the gas, and when to swerve to prevent an accident. When a person is mentally rested, they can generally make the split-second decisions they need to make in order to keep themselves and other parties on the road safe.
On the other hand, studies have shown that when a person is sleep deprived, they are more likely to make risky decisions. They are also more likely to make an impulsive decision, which can often lead to an accident and injuries.
3. Drowsy Drivers Have a Poor Attention Span
If you have never a professional truck driver then you likely don’t realize just how difficult it can be. Getting behind the wheel, day after day, driving hundreds of miles can be difficult. This is especially true when the roads they are driving on are the same roads they’ve been driving on for weeks or months. Being drowsy can make it much harder for big rig drivers to keep an eye on the road when they’re driving.
If you have been injured in a car accident, or have lost a loved one in an accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for your free legal consultation.
