Driver fatigue is one of the most common — and most dangerous — causes of truck accidents in Oklahoma. When an exhausted driver is behind the wheel of a 40-ton vehicle, the consequences can be catastrophic. Even a momentary lapse in alertness can lead to rear-end collisions, lane departures, rollover crashes, and fatal highway impacts.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck wreck caused by a fatigued driver, understanding the laws, the warning signs, and your legal options can help you protect your rights and build a strong case.
Why Truck Driver Fatigue Is So Dangerous
Fatigue affects driving in ways similar to alcohol. Research from the FMCSA shows that tired drivers experience:
- Slower reaction times
- Impaired judgment
- Difficulty maintaining lanes
- Reduced hazard awareness
- Microsleep episodes — brief moments where drivers lose consciousness
When this happens at highway speeds, the results are devastating.
Federal Rules That Limit Driving Hours
Truck drivers must follow strict Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations designed to prevent fatigue, including:
- 11-hour driving limit: A driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 14-hour limit: Drivers cannot work beyond 14 hours in a day, even with breaks.
- 30-minute break rule: Drivers must take a break after 8 hours of driving.
- 60/70-hour weekly limits: Restrictions on total driving hours over 7–8 days.
But in the real world, these rules are often ignored or manipulated.
How Trucking Companies Contribute to Driver Fatigue
Fatigue isn’t just about drivers being tired — it’s often caused by company pressure and unsafe scheduling. Trucking companies may:
- Push drivers to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines
- Encourage skipping required breaks
- Fail to provide proper rest time
- Overload drivers with back-to-back shifts
- Ignore logbook violations
- Allow drivers to exceed federal hour limits
These actions not only endanger drivers — they endanger everyone else on the road.
Signs a Truck Crash Was Caused by Fatigue
Your lawyer will look for evidence that fatigue played a role. Common indicators include:
- Driver drifting between lanes before impact
- Lack of braking marks
- Sudden lane departures or rumble-strip hits
- Admissions of being “tired” or “up all night”
- Hours-of-service violations in the logbook
- Gaps or suspicious entries in electronic logging devices (ELDs)
- Delivery schedules that make rest impossible
Fatigue is often the hidden cause of a serious wreck — and trucking companies do everything they can to bury the evidence.
What Compensation You May Be Entitled To
If you were injured because of a fatigued truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills and ongoing care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Vehicle damage and transportation costs
- Long-term disability
- Wrongful death damages for fatal crashes
These cases often involve multiple layers of insurance coverage — meaning your recovery can be significant.
How Aldridge Teasdale Investigates Fatigue-Related Truck Wrecks
Trucking companies know driver fatigue is a liability, so they often try to hide or manipulate records. We act fast to secure evidence such as:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data
- Black box (ECM) downloads
- GPS records and route timing
- Dispatch and scheduling logs
- Driver rest break history
- Maintenance records and inspection reports
- Witness statements
We piece together the full story — even when the trucking company tries to conceal it.
Get a Free Case Review Today
If you or someone you love was injured in a truck wreck caused by driver fatigue, you don’t have to take on the trucking company alone. These cases are complex and time-sensitive — and early investigation is key.
Request your Free Case Review or call (405) 447-HURT. You pay nothing unless we win.
Internal Link: Truck Accident Overview
Do You Need a Lawyer after an 18-Wheeler Accident?
Of course. First, your experience with the lawyers of Aldridge Teasdale is free of charge. Our job is to take the burden off of you and then get you and your family compensated for all of your losses. Truck accidents can leave people with catastrophic injuries.
We will get you compensation resulting from:
- Medical treatment.
- Loss of income.
- Continuing pain.
- Loss of life and use.
- Punitive damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of loved one
- Loss of support
- Permanent injuries
- Scarring
- Future medical requirements
- Loss of future work
Contact the law firm of Aldridge Teasdale today for a FREE consultation.
