Is Fatigued Driving Like Drunk Driving, and Can I Sue?

 Posted on January 23, 2025 in Truck Accidents

Almost everyone knows that driving under the influence is illegal. Alcohol and drugs can cause various impairments that make driving risky. You may have also heard that driver fatigue is responsible for many motor vehicle collisions, particularly those involving large trucks. Did you know that excessive fatigue can cause many of the same impairments that drugs and alcohol produce?

How does fatigue make driving unsafe? If driver fatigue contributed to the truck accident that injured you, can you get compensation? You will need evidence to support your claim, and a resourceful Will County, IL truck accident attorney can find it.

How Does Fatigue Affect Drivers?

We all know what it feels like to be tired. Fatigue is a deeper kind of tiredness with several adverse effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that being awake for extended periods is similar to being intoxicated. The impairments you could experience by remaining awake for 17 hours roughly equate to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent, with 24 hours being similar to a 0.10 percent BAC. Inconsistent and restless sleep can also add to fatigue.

The legal limit for DUI is 0.08 percent, but lower amounts are known to cause impairments. Commercial driver’s license holders, which include semi-truck drivers, can be charged with a DUI for a 0.04 percent BAC.

Impairments that are associated with both fatigue and alcohol include:

• Decreased awareness

• Poor motor coordination

• Microsleeps

• Poor judgment

When behind the wheel, these impairments can translate to several driving errors. Regardless of the cause, impaired drivers are often unable to maintain a consistent speed. They may jerk their steering wheels sharply or meander through traffic. Aggressive and distracted driving are also common.

All these factors can combine to slow a driver’s reactions, making it impossible to avoid a crash. Other drivers may attempt to evade an impaired driver, only to collide with another vehicle.

Why Do Truckers Drive When Overly Drowsy?

Unlike people with 9 to 5 jobs, truckers often have irregular schedules based on expected pick-up and delivery times. They may have to travel through the night to arrive at a location early in the morning, and darkness can contribute to the effects of fatigue. If truck drivers are paid by the mile, they may drive for longer stretches to earn more income.

Whatever their reasons, fatigued truckers can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries if their rig collides with a passenger vehicle. Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, making them incredibly dangerous in the hands of a fatigued driver.

How Can I Prove the Driver Who Hit Me Was Fatigued?

Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate your accident. We will examine hours of service logbooks and the truck’s black box. We may find evidence by looking through time-stamped receipts or questioning eyewitnesses. Cell phone records may reveal the driver was awake and active for an extended period. If the evidence exists, we can find it and use it to support your claim.

When we can show that a driver’s fatigue directly contributed to causing your collision, you may be able to seek compensation for your damages. If a trucking company or another third party shares fault by requiring the driver to continue working without sufficient rest, they could also be liable.

Contact a Skilled Joliet, IL Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Driving while fatigued, like drunk driving, is negligent. This negligence may give you grounds to pursue compensation, and you can trust Carlson Law Group, P.C. to handle your claim effectively. Contact us online or call 815-710-3700 to book your free consultation with our dedicated Morris, IL personal injury attorney.