You will typically share the road with commercial truck drivers every time you get behind the wheel of your car, and you likely expect that these professional vehicle operators have the experience necessary for practicing safe habits under any conditions. This raises the question of why trucking accidents seem to be more common at night.
It is important for all motorists to exercise a high level of care and attentiveness while driving so as to protect themselves and others on the road. By understanding more about the factors that can lead to trucking accidents at night, you can make more informed decisions either before or after an accident.
Driver fatigue
Truck drivers often work irregular hours, sometimes with very early start times. When an individual driver makes the decision to work for an excessive amount of time well into the night, it can lead to fatigue that affects decision-making or even falling asleep behind the wheel. The FMCSA enforces hours of service regulations to mitigate the risk of such occurrences, but the policy does not entirely eliminate the possibility of negligence.
Poor visibility
It goes without saying that everyone must overcome poor visibility when driving after dark. While many motorists tend to make the decision of limiting their nighttime driving, though, commercial truck drivers operate at all hours of the day and thus may contribute to a higher accident statistic.
If you experience a truck accident at night, it is important to seek compensation from truck drivers who are guilty of negligence. Be aware, however, that you might also hold the trucking company liable for being lax about enforcing necessary safety regulations.
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