Truck Driver Fatigue: Taking Legal Action in Reno, NV

Every year, thousands of families are changed forever by collisions involving large trucks, and these aren’t minor fender-benders. When an 80,000-pound commercial truck hits a passenger vehicle, the consequences are often devastating: catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, or loss of life. While there are many causes behind truck crashes, one of the most dangerous (and often hidden) factors is driver fatigue.

Truck driver fatigue doesn’t always look like someone falling asleep at the wheel. It can show up as slower reflexes, poor judgment, and missing critical cues on the road. In this blog, we’ll explain how fatigue affects truck drivers, what federal laws are supposed to prevent it, and how a truck accident attorney can help if you or someone you love was harmed in a crash involving a tired driver.

Understanding Truck Driver Fatigue

Fatigue isn’t just about feeling tired. For truck drivers, it’s often a complex mix of sleep deprivation, irregular schedules, and physical strain. Many drivers push through long hauls with limited rest, trying to meet demanding delivery windows. Others drive through the night, working against their natural sleep cycles.

The effects can be as dangerous as driving under the influence. Fatigue slows down reaction time, affects coordination, and makes it harder to make quick decisions. This detrimental combination affects the critical skills necessary for safety behind the wheel of a semi-truck.

Some of the leading causes of fatigue in truckers include:

- Lack of quality sleep due to tight schedules
- Driving during circadian low points (like overnight hours)
- Accumulated exhaustion from multiple long-haul days
- Untreated or undiagnosed sleep disorders such as sleep apnea

Signs of Truck Driver Fatigue

Passenger cars are often at the mercy of big rigs, so drivers must exercise extreme caution and awareness when they are near trucks on the highway. Although you can’t be certain that a truck driver is fatigued, there are signs that you can watch out for.

If you observe any of the following signs, be sure to keep a safe distance from the truck.

- Weaving or Drifting: If the truck sways between lanes or drifts toward the shoulder, it could indicate drowsiness.
- Inconsistent Speed: Sudden speeding up or slowing down for no clear reason.
- Slow Reaction Times: Delayed braking or hesitation at green lights and stop signs.
- Late or No Signal Use: Failing to signal before lane changes or turns.
- Jerky Movements: Abrupt lane changes or overcorrections in steering.
- Brake Lights Flickering Frequently: Suggests the driver might be unsure or nodding off.
- Head Tilting or Slouching: It’s not always possible to see the driver, but if you can, nodding off, head bobbing, or poor posture are big red flags.
- Frequent Lane Corrections: Constant small steering adjustments to stay in the lane can signal fatigue.
- Stopping in Odd Places: Pulling over on off-ramps or road shoulders with no hazard or emergency.

Federal Truck Driver Fatigue Regulations

To combat the dangers of driver fatigue, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has put in place specific rules called the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. These rules dictate how long a truck driver can drive within a certain period. For example, a driver can typically drive a maximum of 11 hours after having 10 consecutive hours off duty.

The regulations also mandate break times during driving shifts and limit the total amount of time a driver can be on duty. Additionally, there’s the “34-hour restart” rule, which allows drivers to reset their weekly on-duty hours after taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. The goal of these rules is to prevent tired drivers from operating large commercial vehicles and to make our roads safer.

Unfortunately, these regulations are not always followed. Whether it’s the result of pressure from the trucking company or because individual truckers are cutting corners, the danger exists all the same. Research from the National Transportation and Safety Board indicates that driver fatigue is the cause of 30 to 40 percent of all heavy truck accidents.

This means that, despite federal regulations, one out of every three semi-truck accidents is due to drivers failing to obey fundamental safety guidelines.

Legal Implications of Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents

In the aftermath of a trucking accident, proving that driver fatigue contributed to the accident can significantly help your case. If a driver violated the FMCSA’s Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, this could be strong evidence of negligence, a legal concept known as negligence “per se.” However, even without an HOS violation, other evidence can point to driver fatigue, such as falsified driver logs, eyewitness accounts of erratic driving, or even dashcam footage showing signs of drowsiness.

Trucking companies also have a responsibility to ensure their drivers comply with HOS rules and are not pressured to drive when dangerously tired. This means that both the truck driver and the trucking company may be held liable for damages caused by a fatigue-related accident.

If you’ve been injured, it’s vital to know what to do after a semi-truck accident. You may be able to pursue compensation for things like medical bills, lost income, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.

Fight Fatigue-Related Crashes with a Reno Truck Accident Lawyer

Fatigue-related trucking accidents are 100% preventable, and they often result in significant damages. Victims must swiftly pursue justice when they occur, especially if the accident involves clear violations of safety laws. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a crash with a commercial truck, it’s important to know your rights and take action.

At Jensen Injury Law, we have deep experience handling truck accident cases in Nevada. Bob Jensen is a certified personal injury specialist, AV-rated for ethics and skill, and a member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. He’s spent decades holding trucking companies accountable, and he is ready to fight tirelessly to protect your rights.