At Least 14 Hurt After Truck Driver Falls Asleep at the Wheel

Truck drivers have a difficult job as they spend long hours on the road behind the wheel, day after day, after day. It is often very hard to stay awake and alert as they push themselves for many consecutive hours. However, it is up to both the drivers and the trucking companies they work for to strictly adhere to the consecutive driving hour restrictions that are in place. When a driver chooses to ignore those restrictions they can be held accountable for any accident and injuries they cause. Likewise, the companies they work for can also be held responsible.

Authorities say that a semi-truck driver is to blame for a multi-car accident that left more than a dozen people injured, near Stickney, recently. According to reports, the 52-year-old driver, who is from Tennessee, fell asleep at the wheel and caused the chain-reaction crash that sent five people to the hospital and injured at least nine other people. Twelve cars were involved in the crash that happened at around 4:00 in the morning. Officials had not expounded on the conditions of those who were injured in the crash at the time of this report.

According to court documents, the driver was worried about not making his delivery time. He reportedly told authorities that after realizing he might not make it he just “kept his foot down” and continued driving. The driver was not hurt in the crash, but authorities have charged him with several offenses. Officials gave the man six tickets at the scene of the crash. Among the infractions was a ticket for driving while fatigued and another for driving for more than 14 hours consecutively.

Obviously, this driver made a terrible judgment by continuing to drive when he was tired and had already exceeded his consecutive hours limit. This is a serious matter and he could be facing injury claims and lawsuits from the victims in the crash. In addition, the trucking company for which he works could also be held liable for the accident and the injuries suffered. Anyone who is hurt in this kind of situation should not wait to act. They should contact a personal injury lawyer right away. At Brassfield & Krueger, we handle truck accident cases aggressively and effectively. We make sure that all responsible parties are held accountable. If you need strong legal representation in Rockford, then contact us today at 815-315-9845, or click here.