Fatigued truck drivers pose a serious threat to road safety, especially in Pittsburgh, where busy highways see frequent heavy truck traffic. Driving while drowsy significantly impairs reaction times, decision-making, and vehicle control.
When an 80,000-pound truck is involved, the consequences of a collision can be catastrophic. Victims often face significant injuries and even loss of life.
Our skilled truck crash attorneys at Bordas & Bordas are dedicated to holding fatigued truck drivers in Pittsburgh accidents accountable for their actions. If you have been harmed by a drowsy truck driver, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our compassionate legal professionals.
Truckers who choose to drive while tired run the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. When that happens, they typically lose control of their vehicle and often cause devastating harm, especially when they’re operating an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer. They could veer over the median, causing a head-on collision with another vehicle that severely injures or kills those inside. Resulting injuries from a crash could include:
If you suffered these or any other injuries after being involved in an accident caused by a drowsy truck driver in Pittsburgh, reach out to our legal team at Bordas & Bordas to pursue legal action.
Given the potentially catastrophic and fatal impacts of driving a semi-truck while tired, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict rules regarding the hours of service a trucker can complete.
Truck drivers are only allowed to drive 11 hours a day or 14 hours on duty and they must have 10 hours off and have two consecutive days off after 70 hours on duty. Once they hit 14 hours on duty, they must have 10 consecutive hours off each day. The FMCSA also requires truckers to log their driving time to ensure they do not go over their allotted hours of service.
Unfortunately, some greedy trucking companies pressure their drivers to inaccurately report their driving hours so they can drive for longer periods, make more deliveries, and make the trucking company more money. This puts everyone else on the road at risk and increases the chances of a drowsy driving truck accident in Pittsburgh.
The truck driver is primarily responsible for adhering to the FMCSA regulations. If a driver exceeds the legal driving limit—11 hours of driving or 14 hours on duty—they are required to stop and rest in a safe, legally permitted location to comply with these rules.
If the trucking company pressures or encourages the driver to violate these regulations, both the driver and the company may be held liable for a resulting crash. Additionally, the driver is responsible for managing any medical conditions that could impact their ability to rest properly and drive safely.
The trucking company also shares responsibility by ensuring the driver has a valid medical certificate with no restrictions or conditions that could interfere with safe driving. If the company neglects this duty, it may also be held accountable for an 18-wheeler collision caused by a fatigued truck driver in Pittsburgh.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident caused by a fatigued truck driver in Pittsburgh, don’t navigate the aftermath alone. Our dedicated, capable lawyers at Bordas & Bordas are here to help. We have experience holding negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable and will fight to secure the comprehensive compensation you deserve for the harm you should never have suffered.
Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case and take the first step toward justice.
