MORGAN ACCIDENT FOCUSES ATTENTION ON TRUCK DRIVER FATIGUE
The problem of driver fatigue is a serious concern when it comes to truck accidents in the United States.
As comedian and actor Tracy Morgan continues to recover from the serious injuries he suffered in a truck accident earlier this summer, he has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart.
The truck driver purportedly responsible for the collision was a Wal-Mart employee. According to reports, he had almost reached the maximum driving time allowed for truck drivers and had been awake for more than 24 hours at the time of the truck accident.
The collision resulted in one fatality and many others suffered serious injuries as a result. The question about the truck driver’s alertness has caused some to discuss the need for increased safety measures to ensure truck drivers are not on the road when they are fatigued.
Nevertheless, some lawmakers are pushing to suspend the stricter regulations that were put in place last year. As of July 2013, truck drivers were required to take a 34-hour break, including two nighttime periods, following a 70-hour workweek. Since then, senators have proposed legislation that would put those rules on hold, while further studies are conducted to determine whether they are effective at preventing fatigued truck drivers.
By suspending the regulations, many are concerned that a rising number of truck drivers will drive when fatigued, leading to an increased likelihood of dangerous truck accidents.
THE DANGER OF LARGE TRUCK ACCIDENTS IN TENNESSEE
In Tennessee, the number of people killed in large truck accidents has been on the rise in recent years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 111 people died in truck accidents in the state in 2012. In 2009, just 92 people lost their lives in large truck collisions in Tennessee.
A similar trend has been seen across the country, as fatalities caused by truck accidents are increasing. In 2012, the number of people killed in truck crashes rose by almost 4 percent in the United States, according to the NHTSA. In all, 3,921 people died in such collisions in the country that year.
When a large truck driver causes a motor vehicle accident, the injuries suffered by the occupants of the other vehicles are often the most serious. In such cases, the people responsible for the collision should be held accountable for the damage done. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident in Tennessee, talk to a skilled personal injury attorney, who will work to obtain the compensation to which you may be entitled.
