Fatal Nevada Semi-Truck Accident Blamed on Drowsy Driving

Anytime day or night, large semi-trucks are a common site on Nevada’s roads and interstates. The more goods that trucks move, the more money for trucking companies, so truck drivers are working around the clock. Regulations and policies are in place to limit the number of hours a truck driver may work in a 24-hour period, but the culture and compensation structure in the trucking industry encourage drivers to cover as many miles as possible in a short period, which too often leads to drowsy driving. In Nevada and across the country, many semi-truck accidents are evidence of this disturbing fact.

A fatal semi-truck accident that occurred last month on U.S. 93 approaching Interstate 15 has been blamed on drowsy driving by authorities. Motorists were stopped for a flagger in a construction zone when a semi-truck hit the vehicles, including a Toyota Corolla (both driver and passenger died at the scene), a Nissan, another semi-truck, and a Chevy Malibu. The Nevada Highway Patrol said the semi-truck driver who hit the vehicles admitted to drowsy driving and may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

The Trucking Industry’s Drowsy Driving Epidemic

According to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Medicine, nearly 250,000 people fall asleep while driving every single day of the year, and, in a survey that did not require drivers to reveal their identities, over half of participants admitted to driving while drowsy and a quarter said they had fallen asleep at the wheel, if only for a moment. Regarding truck drivers as a separate group, nearly half revealed they had drifted off at least once while driving a long-haul route.

Driving for long periods of time dulls the senses and leads to general fatigue, and experts have found that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving or texting and driving. Yet, truck drivers may be inclined to force themselves to continue driving even when they are tired because trucking companies pressure them to meet deadlines and spend as much time as possible behind the wheel, despite the danger.

Talk to an Experienced Nevada Truck Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a semi-truck, seek experienced legal representation as soon as possible. Trucking companies have lawyers working for them to avoid liability in truck accident cases. With a knowledgeable Henderson truck accident attorney on your side, you’ll level the playing field and increase your chances of receiving maximum compensation for your injuries. In Nevada, call the David Boehrer Law Firm in Henderson for a no-cost consultation at 702-750-0750.