Earlier this year, the American Trucking Association (ATA) communicated their concerns about truck related accidents. The ATA asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to focus their efforts on measures that could drastically reduce the number of accidents and fatalities during interstate freight shipments.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that the truck-involved fatality rate declined 12.3 percent and persons injured in truck related accidents declined 11 percent in 2008.

These are promising numbers and for the past 5 years truck related fatalities and serious injuries has declined. Still, the ATA would like the FMCSA to focus more on:

1. Sleep disorder awareness;
2. Promoting fatigue risk management programs;
3. Evaluating uses of fatigue detection devices;
4. Additional screening, training, and education and;
5. Increasing availability of truck parking

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that 52 percent of 107 single-vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks were fatigued related, and the driver admitted to falling asleep in 18 percent of these cases.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that there are 56,000 sleep-related accidents annually, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the FMCSA have implemented hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers. These regulations focus on when and how long a truck driver is allowed to drive. Truck driving fatigue is a safety concern and when commercial truck drivers exceed the regulated hours-of-service, there is a significant increase in the risk of a truck accidents resulting in serious injury or death.

If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a commercial truck, you should consult with an experienced truck accident attorney. At Tabor Law, we have handled numerous personal injury cases involving trucks. Our attorneys have the resources and experience necessary to win or successfully settle your case. Let Tabor Law be your partner in your life changing case.

To learn more about accidents caused by truck driver fatigue and commercial truck law, visit www.indytrucklawyer.com