Are Boise, Idaho Truck Driver Schedules Giving Truck Drivers Sleep Disorders?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 4,000 people die in truck accidents every year. 100,000 more suffer injuries as a result of these accidents. A recent CNBC article put the crisis into perspective. The kinds of injuries Americans suffer every year as a result of the trucking industry is comparable to the kind of damages that would be caused if a major jet crashed every single week for a whole year. There would certainly be a large American outcry against the aviation industry if airplane crashes were in the news every day. Yet, truck accident injuries and deaths are accepted as if they were inevitable.

Researchers have identified many factors that contribute to accidents. Alcohol use, distracted driving, and long hours are contributing factors in many truck accidents. Truck drivers are subject to strict regulations that limit their hours of service. Before a truck driver can receive his or her license he or she must also pass stringent health tests. Drivers with a history of alcohol abuse, illnesses that would interfere with the ability to drive, or health conditions such as sleep disorders, are not allowed to drive commercial vehicles. Yet, despite this, many truck drivers are subjected to such irregular hours and long shifts, that they are as tired as individuals with sleep disorders.

If the government restricts drivers with health conditions, one wonders why stricter limits on hours of service are not implemented.

According to a recent study, driving late at night, or changing one’s sleep wake cycle to meet truck company’s shipping demands can lead to traffic accidents. The researchers, when discussing sleep-related traffic accidents in the book Sleep Medicine, made few distinctions between drivers who were sleepy due to a sleep disorder and those who were sleepy due to disruptions of their sleep cycle due to work schedules. The major risk factors for sleep-related accidents were driving between 2 and  5 in the morning, and getting only limited amount of sleep the day or night before driving.

Truck accidents in Boise or Nampa, Idaho have an immense impact on the public. Accidents can lead to lost productivity, life-altering injuries, and death. Families affected may face immense medical expenses, the loss of an important income, and may have to spend immense resources in caring for an injured loved one.

According to USAttorneys.com, truck accident lawsuits can help families recover money for their losses, but these lawsuits can take years to resolve due to their complexity and due to the many stakeholders involved. State and federal laws must be considered. Many organizations may also have liability when it comes to truck accidents. Truck drivers, owners, operators, shipping companies, logistics companies, and other organizations may all have a role to play leading to a given accident.

If you’ve been injured in Boise or Nampa, you need a semi-truck accident lawyer fighting for your rights. The Law Office of Johnson & Lundgreen offers compassionate counsel for truck accident victims. We’ll take the time to understand your case and fight those at fault to ensure that you and your loved ones get the justice you deserve.