Celebrity injured in truck crash shows why we need trucker sleep laws

Many truck drivers operate on our highways after long hours behind the wheel without proper rest and sleep. This fact came to the forefront when the popular comedian, Tracy Morgan, was seriously injured in a crash with an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. Walmart employed the driver of the tractor-trailer. It was reported that he had been awake for more than 24 consecutive hours. The truck driver failed to notice slow moving traffic ahead of him. His truck struck the vehicle that Tracy Morgan was riding in with such force that it killed one of the passengers, comedian James McNair, and seriously injured Mr. Morgan and others. This tragic accident crash brings to light a problem that has caused too many injuries and deaths

Sleepy Truck Drivers

Federal Regulations require that no truck driver shall operate a vehicle while the driver’s ability is impaired or is likely to become impaired through fatigue. This means that a driver whose ability to safely operate his truck is impaired because he is tired or his ability is likely to become impaired because he is tired shall not operate the truck. Many truck drivers suffer from Sleep Apnea, a condition that results in daytime sleepiness and fatigue. A truck driver who suffers from this condition is obviously a potential danger on our public roadways. The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee is continuing its review of this condition, in order to determine if new screening rules should be adopted. We have read,

Categories

Contact Coluccio Law