You are likely familiar with the many effects that a lack of sleep can cause. When we are tired our concentration wanes, our reflexes slow down and we may even get irritable. Unfortunately, the demands of living in our society often force us to go without the amount of sleep that we so desperately need.
Still, when most people get tired, they can manage to function without causing any great harm to anyone else. However, this cannot be said for those who must spend the better part of their waking hours behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer. As we previously pointed out on this blog, the demands made on truck drivers can end up leading some of them to drive in a state of fatigue.
A new documentary broadcast on the National Geographic Channel issues some revealing facts about the effects of sleep deprivation. One thing that documentary points out is that fatigue tops all other causes of severe road crashes.
This may be due to a state known as “microsleep.†According to the show, when a person enters this condition, they can be involuntarily asleep for as long as 10 seconds. As you can imagine, if a driver operating a massive 18-wheel vehicle slips into microsleep for a few seconds, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Truck accidents have the potential to leave their victims severely injured—so much so, they may require long-term medical care and rehabilitative treatment. They may be unable to work as they recuperate, adding further financial burdens to their difficult set of circumstances.
There are laws that require drivers to take regular breaks for sleep. Should a driver work past their allotted time on the road and cause an accident due to being fatigued, there needs to be accountability.
In the event you are harmed in a truck accident, an attorney could provide guidance in pursuing recompense for your injuries and damages.
Source: The Washington Post, No, you're not sleeping enough, and it's a problem: 15 scary facts in new NatGeo doc,€ Emily Yahr, Dec. 2, 2014