Anyone who drives the freeways in Southern California knows how many big rigs, delivery trucks, and tractor-trailers move through the region every day. When those vehicles are involved in a crash, the damage is often devastating, especially for people in smaller cars.
One of the most common, and most overlooked, causes of commercial truck accidents in California is driver fatigue. Tired truck drivers may not mean to put others at risk, but when you are operating a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, even a brief lapse in alertness can change lives in an instant.
This page explains how fatigue contributes to commercial truck accidents, what warning signs to look for, and how an experienced Rancho Cucamonga truck accident lawyer can help if you or a loved one has been hurt.
How Common Is Truck Driver Fatigue?
Drowsy driving is far more common than most people realize. The National Safety Council reports that about 1 in 25 adult drivers admit they have fallen asleep at the wheel in the past month.
For commercial drivers, the risk is even higher. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has found that fatigue is a factor in roughly 13 percent of large truck crashes. In California, where hundreds of fatal truck crashes occur each year, fatigue-related mistakes are a serious concern. To learn about other risk factors, you can read more about the common causes of commercial truck accidents in California.
Truck drivers often spend long hours behind the wheel, drive at night, and work under strict delivery deadlines. Over time, that schedule can wear down even experienced, safety-conscious drivers.
Why Fatigue Is So Dangerous In Commercial Truck Accidents
Fatigue does more than make a driver feel sleepy. It affects the brain and body in ways that are very similar to alcohol:
- Slower reaction time. A tired driver may not hit the brakes or steer away from danger in time to avoid a crash.
- Reduced awareness. Fatigued drivers can miss vehicles in their blind spots, changing traffic signals, or stopped traffic ahead.
- Poor judgment. When the brain is exhausted, it is harder to judge speed, distance, and road conditions, which can lead to risky choices.
- Microsleeps. In severe cases, the brain may “shut down” for a few seconds at a time, even if the driver thinks they are still awake.
Because large commercial trucks take much longer to stop and are harder to maneuver, these fatigue-related problems are especially dangerous during lane changes, sudden slowdowns, or heavy traffic.
What Causes Fatigue For Truck Drivers In California?
Truck driver fatigue accidents rarely have just one cause. Common contributors include:
- Long hours and tight schedules. Even with federal hours-of-service rules, some drivers feel pressure to drive longer than is safe to meet delivery deadlines.
- Overnight and early-morning driving. Many commercial truck routes in Southern California run late at night or early in the morning, when the body naturally wants to sleep.
- Irregular sleep patterns. Rotating schedules, sleeping in the cab, and frequent time-zone changes can all interfere with quality sleep.
- Health conditions and medications. Sleep apnea, untreated medical issues, or sedating medications can leave a driver groggy even after a “rest” period.
- Monotonous driving. Long stretches of freeway with similar scenery can lead to “highway hypnosis,” where a driver zones out and loses track of time and distance.
When these factors combine, a driver may be technically within their legal driving hours but still too tired to operate a commercial truck safely.
Warning Signs A Truck Driver May Have Been Too Tired
After a crash, it is not always obvious that fatigue played a role. Some signs that a truck driver may have been drowsy include:
- The crash happened late at night, very early in the morning, or after many hours on the road.
- Witnesses saw the truck drifting between lanes, following too closely, or braking late.
- The truck showed no skid marks, suggesting the driver did not react before impact.
- The driver admits they were “worn out,” “running behind,” or “trying to get one more load in.”
- The delivery schedule seems unrealistic given the distances involved.
These clues often point to a deeper problem: a driver who was pushing through fatigue instead of stopping to rest.
Proving Fatigue After A Commercial Truck Crash
Victims of commercial truck accidents in California do not have to prove exactly when a driver started feeling tired. Instead, the law focuses on whether the driver and trucking company acted reasonably and followed safety rules.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can help gather evidence such as:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data and driver logs that show driving hours, rest breaks, and time on duty.
- Dispatch records, GPS data, and fuel receipts that may reveal hours-of-service violations or rushed schedules.
- Company policies, emails, or text messages that pressure drivers to “make up time” or skip breaks.
- Maintenance and inspection records if poor vehicle condition forced the driver to work longer or in unsafe conditions.
- Witness statements from other motorists, co-workers, or truck stop employees who saw the driver struggling to stay awake.
Together, this evidence can show that fatigue was a significant factor in the crash and help hold all responsible parties accountable, including the driver and the trucking company.
What To Do After A Truck Driver Fatigue Accident In Southern California
If you or someone you love has been injured in a commercial truck accident, you are likely dealing with serious injuries, medical bills, and stress. A few steps can help protect your health and your legal rights:
- Get medical care right away, even if you think you are “okay” at first. Some serious injuries are not obvious immediately.
- Report the crash to law enforcement and ask for a copy of the collision report when it is available.
- Save evidence, including photos of the scene and vehicles, your damaged vehicle, and any information you have about the truck and driver.
- Avoid giving recorded statements or signing forms for the trucking company’s insurance adjuster before you talk with a lawyer.
- Contact a truck accident attorney as soon as you can, especially if you suspect fatigue or hours-of-service violations.
Truck accident cases are complex, and trucking companies move quickly to defend themselves. You deserve someone on your side who understands how these cases work.
Talk With A Rancho Cucamonga Truck Accident Lawyer About A Fatigue-Related Crash
Fatigued truck drivers put everyone on the road at risk. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a commercial truck accident in California and you believe driver fatigue played a role, Muhareb Law Group is ready to help.
Our firm has experience handling truck driver fatigue accidents across Southern California, including San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire. We know how to investigate commercial truck accidents in California, preserve crucial evidence, and pursue full compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and future needs.
To speak with a Rancho Cucamonga truck accident lawyer about your situation, call Muhareb Law Group at (909) 519-5832 or send us a message online to schedule a free consultation. You do not have to face the aftermath of a truck accident alone.