Starkville Truck Driver Fatigue

If a truck driver is too tired to drive safely, dire consequences can result. Fatigue is consistently linked with side effects like drowsiness, irritability, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times. All of these present issues when it comes to operating a vehicle that weighs tens of thousands of pounds. For instance, if a driver is dozing off, he may not realize he is entering a road construction zone where the speed limit is significantly reduced. This could easily result in an unfortunate accident.

Seeking damages after a crash caused by a truck driver who was fatigued will likely require you to establish the negligence of the truck driver. Negligence can be established by proving that your injuries were caused by the defendant breaching a duty of reasonable care that he or she owed you. It may also be established by reviewing logbooks and showing the truck driver breached hours of service guidelines set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A few ways in which you can bolster your claim would be to photograph your injuries and the scene of the accident. It is also helpful to obtain a copy of the police report of the accident from the Starkville Police Department, which is located at 101 East Lampkin Street, Starkville, Mississippi 39759.

Another way to validate your claim would be to obtain a copy of the documentation regarding your injuries from the hospital you went to for your injuries to be looked at. Many people injured in the Starkville area seek medical attention from nearby medical facilities, such as OCH Regional Medical Center – located at 400 Hospital Road, Starkville, Mississippi 39759. A knowledgeable lawyer in the Starkville area can inform you of other ways to substantiate your claim and maybe even hold the trucking company liable, either directly or vicariously. Vicarious liability can attach if the responsible driver was acting in the course and scope of employment, such as a delivery truck driver in route to a customer.

The damages to which you may be entitled depend on the nature and severity of your injuries. Compensatory damages, which are designed to make a victim whole again, are usually awarded to victims. Compensatory damages can be broken down into two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are awarded for monetary losses, such as lost wages and medical bills, while non-economic damages are awarded for intangible losses, such as loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering.