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Thanks to years of government regulation and awareness campaigns, just about everyone is at least broadly aware of the dangers of drunk and high driving. However, there is a third way to be impaired behind the wheel that many people do not think of in the same way as impairment from alcohol or drugs, even though studies suggest it can be just as limiting—and therefore just as dangerous—as intoxication.
Extreme fatigue can reduce your reaction time and motor control to a point where you are not capable of safely operating a motor vehicle of any kind, let alone a massive tractor-trailer. Unfortunately, fatigued truck drivers are involved in Harrisburg accidents much more often than they should be, and as any experienced semi-truck crash attorney can tell you, suing a tired trucker over a traffic collision can be extremely difficult.
Does Driving While Tired Count as Negligence?
Unlike drunk driving, high driving, and even standard traffic offenses like speeding or turning without signaling, driving while tired is not illegal in Pennsylvania under state or federal law. That said, someone who is so exhausted that it is affecting their ability to safely operate an automobile can still be held civilly liable for a wreck they caused by driving in that condition. That is because what they are doing still qualifies as a violation of their “duty of care.”
Every person who gets behind the wheel and drives on public roads has a legal obligation not just to obey traffic laws but also to act reasonably and rationally at all times so as not to cause preventable collisions with other drivers. A truck driver who chooses to drive even though they are dangerously fatigued is acting unreasonably and breaching their duty of care. If they cause an accident in Harrisburg because of that fatigue, they have met all the criteria for legal negligence and can be held liable for any ensuing damages.
Holding the Right People Accountable for a Fatigued Truck Driver Crash
Fatigued truck drivers are not always solely responsible for crashes they end up involved in. People driving passenger cars also have a duty of care to act lawfully and responsibly, so—for example—someone who commits a traffic violation and ends up colliding with a tired trucker may be found partially or even primarily at fault for causing their injuries through their own negligence.
In addition, it is not unheard of for trucking companies to knowingly pressure their employees into violating federal driving time restrictions to save time and money on routes, substantially increasing the risk of their truck drivers causing crashes in Harrisburg because they are so tired from lack of proper breaks. In this kind of scenario, the trucking company may be more liable for the collision than the individual trucker. A skilled lawyer can help an injured person hold all responsible parties accountable for their losses.
A Harrisburg Attorney Can Help Sue a Fatigued Truck Driver Over an Accident
There are many reasons why a commercial truck driver may get out on the road in less-than-perfect physical condition, but none of those reasons are good enough to justify the risk of a life-altering crash. If you have been hurt in a Harrisburg accident caused by a fatigued truck driver, you unfortunately know better than anyone just how real that risk is, and how dramatically your life can change in the aftermath of such a wreck.
Fortunately, you likely have grounds to demand substantial civil compensation under circumstances like this, and you have help available from seasoned legal counsel to demand the reimbursement you deserve. Call today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your claim with one of our knowledgeable legal professionals.
