One cause of truck accidents that’s becoming increasingly common is fatigued driving. Multiple studies have found that many of these drivers also suffer from sleep apnea, a chronic condition that quietly steals the rest a person needs to stay alert behind the wheel. When the driver in question is operating a commercial truck weighing tens of thousands of pounds, the consequences of that lost sleep can be devastating for everyone sharing the road.
At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our Virginia truck accident attorneys have spent decades representing people who’ve been hurt by drivers and trucking companies that put profit ahead of public safety. We’ve seen firsthand how often fatigue plays a role in serious crashes, and we’ve built our practice around holding every responsible party accountable. A skilled truck accident attorney understands that these cases rarely come down to a single driver making a single mistake. They involve federal regulations, employer responsibilities, medical screening requirements, and a paper trail that has to be pursued quickly before evidence disappears.
Understanding the connection between sleep apnea and serious trucking crashes is part of how victims and their families begin to make sense of what happened. It also helps explain why these claims often involve more parties, more documentation, and more pushback from insurance carriers than a typical car wreck.
A person with sleep apnea typically has pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while they are sleeping. These pauses can last up to one minute. In one hour, these pauses can occur up to 30 times. With each pause, a person who is in deep sleep shifts into light sleep. This continual sleep interruption leaves them feeling exhausted the next day because they are not getting a good quality night’s sleep. Estimates are that there are more than 25 million people who suffer from the chronic disorder.
One of the most common treatment methods for sleep apnea is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Auto-adjusting machines blow air through a mask worn by the sufferer while they sleep.
Why Sleep Apnea Is Especially Dangerous Behind the Wheel of a Truck
Driving a commercial truck demands sharp reflexes, steady attention, and quick decision-making over long stretches of road. A driver who hasn’t slept well is operating an 80,000-pound vehicle on the same highways as families in passenger cars. The math isn’t kind.
Sleep-deprived drivers have slower reaction times, struggle to judge distances accurately, and are far more likely to drift between lanes. Some research has compared the impairment of severe sleep deprivation to driving drunk. When you put that behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer hauling freight through Hampton Roads, the danger compounds quickly.
Common signs that a trucker may be driving while fatigued include:
- Frequent yawning or rubbing their eyes
- Drifting out of the lane or onto rumble strips
- Inconsistent speed, slowing down and speeding up without reason
- Missing exits or traffic signals
- Following too closely or braking late
A Virginia Beach truck accident caused by a fatigued driver often results in catastrophic harm. Trucks take longer to stop, hit with greater force, and tend to cause multi-vehicle pileups when they lose control on busy roads like I-264 or I-64.
Sleep Apnea Study
In one study conducted by researchers from the Virginia Technical Institute, it was concluded that tractor-trailer drivers who suffer from sleep apnea and fail to follow a treatment program are five times more likely to be involved in a serious truck accident.
There were 3,226 truck drivers who participated in the study. All of the drivers had similar job experience and approximately the same amount of time they had worked as truck drivers. Half of the participants suffered from sleep apnea, and the other half did not.
The drivers who suffered from sleep apnea were given an auto-adjusting machine that they could use both on the road and at home. The machines contained an internal memory chip, which enabled researchers to download data to see if the driver assigned to the machine was complying with the recommended treatment.
Participants who failed to follow the PAP therapy program were either let go from their jobs or quit voluntarily. However, the researchers pointed out that under current federal regulations, truck drivers are not required to disclose a diagnosis of sleep apnea, allowing them to work for a new trucking company if they are dismissed from another.
The results of the study revealed that in one year, 1,000 truck drivers with sleep apnea who refused treatment would have 70 preventable serious tractor-trailer accidents, whereas drivers who either followed treatment or did not have sleep apnea would have only 14 preventable truck accidents in that same period.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Truck Crash
Sorting out liability in a trucking case is rarely simple. Unlike a typical car crash where one driver is usually at fault, a serious truck wreck often has several parties who share responsibility for what happened. Identifying each of them matters because each may carry insurance that contributes to a victim’s recovery.
Parties who may be liable in a fatigue-related crash include:
The Driver
If a trucker knew they had sleep apnea, skipped treatment, and got behind the wheel anyway, that’s a choice with serious legal consequences.
The Trucking Company
Carriers have a duty to screen drivers, enforce hours-of-service rules, and respond appropriately when red flags appear. A company that pressures drivers to push past their limits or ignores medical disclosures can be held accountable.
The Medical Examiner
Commercial drivers must pass a Department of Transportation physical. An examiner who clears a high-risk driver without proper screening for sleep disorders may share blame.
The Maintenance Provider
Sometimes fatigue is one of several factors. Faulty brakes, worn tires, or other mechanical problems often come into play, which can pull a repair shop or parts manufacturer into the case.
Building a strong claim means digging into driver logs, employment records, medical files, electronic control module data, and dispatch communications. That kind of investigation takes time and resources, which is why working with a firm that handles these cases regularly makes such a difference. You can learn more about the team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp and how they approach these matters.
A Firm With Deep Roots in Hampton Roads
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has represented injured Virginians for decades, and the firm’s attorneys have handled trucking cases on every major roadway in the region. Our legal team includes members who have written and lectured on personal injury law at the state and national level, and several attorneys have earned recognition from peer-review organizations for their work on behalf of accident victims.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact an experienced Virginia truck accident attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the party or parties responsible for the crash. Truck accident claims can be more complex than other types of vehicle accidents because there are often multiple at-fault parties that are responsible for the financial damages victims may be entitled. Our Virginia accident attorneys have extensive legal experience helping truck accident victims get the compensation they deserve, like the $350,000 truck accident insurance settlement we obtained for one client who suffered a fractured kneecap that required multiple surgeries and rehabilitation.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a Virginia Beach truck accident, the team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp is ready to listen. Contact us at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation to learn about your options. Our firm has offices in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, and we’re proud to serve injured people throughout the region.