For truck drivers, exhaustion and fatigue all can contribute to distraction on a job that requires nonstop attentiveness. One momentary lapse in focus on the road ahead and the job at hand can have fatal consequences. A truck accident often requires extensive investigation in order to determine the causation and the fault, especially when the truck’s involvement resulted in serious injury or fatality.

A recent truck accident in Tennessee claimed the lives of two people and injured one. Coincidentally, these three people had just survived a previous accident, but tragically faced a second accident when a tractor-trailer slammed into the driver’s side of their stalled vehicle, which was sitting crossways in the lane. The collision killed both the driver of the vehicle and a female passenger, while a male passenger suffered serious injuries. The truck driver remained unscathed.

Was this a case of an inattentive driver, who had the ability to stop or reduce speed enough had he seen the car stalled on the road ahead? Was the truck unable to stop because of a mechanical issue? We don’t know yet, but possibilities like these are what make it imperative for accident sites to be properly analyzed and all potential factors taken into account.

Truck drivers are often under pressure to meet deadlines. This sometimes leads them to fail to heed regulations regarding required downtime. The ensuing fatigue could greatly limit their attentiveness and reaction time and cause them to lose control of their tractor-trailers. Should it be determined that this, or other negligent behavior on the part of the driver, played a role in this fatal accident it is possible the truck driver could face personal injury lawsuits. The trucking company might also be held liable, particularly if the truck was found to be poorly maintained or have a faulty braking system. 

Keep in mind that if you or a loved one suffered injuries during a truck accident, you have the right to seek proper compensation. In most cases the best way to go about this is with the help of a motor vehicle accident attorney.

Source: WBIR.com, “Victims in I-81 crash survived 1st accident, died in 2nd,” April 7, 2014