Every year, thousands of people across the United States are injured or killed in accidents involving large commercial trucks. In New Hampshire, where Interstate 93, Route 3, and other major corridors regularly carry heavy freight traffic, the consequences of a serious truck accident can be devastating. One of the most common causes of these crashes is truck driver fatigue. If you’ve been injured in a crash with a commercial truck in New Hampshire, contact the lawyers of Tenn And Tenn, P.C. right away. We help truck accident victims from Nashua to Colebrook get the full and fair compensation they deserve. Call us today at
888-332-5855 or schedule a free
online consultation.
Why Fatigue Is Such a Serious Problem for Truck Drivers
Driving a commercial truck is physically and mentally demanding work. Drivers often log hundreds of miles in a single shift and must maintain their focus despite the monotony of the highway and changing weather conditions. The pressure to meet deadlines pushes many drivers to stay behind the wheel longer than they should. Fatigued drivers experience slower reaction times and reduced situational awareness long before they close their eyes, which heightens the risk of a crash. Research from the
National Sleep Foundation has found that “drowsy driving” can produce impairments similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. Some fatigued truck drivers fall completely asleep behind the wheel, but more often, they engage in brief, involuntary lapses in attention lasting just a few seconds, known as “microsleeps.” At highway speeds, a few seconds is more than enough time for a truck to drift across lanes, miss a curve, or rear-end a slower vehicle. Needless to say, nodding off at the wheel when operating an 80,000-pound vehicle can have catastrophic results.
The Limits of Federal Hours of Service Rules
To address the dangers of driver fatigue, the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration established
Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. These rules limit how long a commercial truck driver can be on duty and require rest breaks. For property-carrying drivers, the regulations generally cap driving to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and mandate a 30-minute rest break after 8 consecutive hours of driving. These rules can help, but unfortunately, they do not eliminate the problem. It’s well known that drivers and carriers sometimes falsify logbooks or manipulate electronic logging device records to hide HOS violations. Some drivers push through fatigue because they feel pressure to complete a run. Others may be technically within their legal hours, yet still dangerously impaired due to poor sleep quality or irregular schedules.
The Situation in New Hampshire
New Hampshire sees significant commercial truck traffic year-round. Overnight and early morning runs are common–exactly the hours when fatigue-related impairment peaks for most people. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and state police conduct
regular commercial vehicle inspections and enforcement efforts, including driver log inspections. Still, no system catches every violation before an accident occurs. When fatigued drivers cause crashes on New Hampshire roads, the victims are left to deal with serious injuries, medical bills, lost income, and long recoveries.
How an Experienced New Hampshire Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Hampshire truck accident, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, PA are ready to help. Fatigue may be a key factor in the crash, even if it’s not immediately obvious. Our team would conduct a thorough investigation to uncover critical evidence, including inspecting driver log records, dispatch communications, and the trucking company’s scheduling practices. Establishing that a driver was fatigued and that the carrier knew, or should have known, of the risk can form the foundation of a strong personal injury claim. Trucking companies carry substantial insurance coverage, and they have experienced legal teams working to minimize their liability. Tenn And Tenn personal injury attorneys understand the federal regulations, the evidence that matters, and the tactics carriers use to deflect responsibility. Our knowledge and experience give injury victims a meaningful advantage. You may feel alone and exhausted as you juggle calls with insurance companies, piling medical bills, and physical recovery after a truck accident. That’s why we’re here to help. Call the experienced New Hampshire personal injury lawyers of Tenn And Tenn, P.C. today at
888-332-5855 or
online for your free evaluation. Whether you’re in Colebrook, Derry, or anywhere in between, we will fight for the compensation you deserve.
